Lucas with good knowledge for everyone in this thread.

I went back and re-watched the entire game, and aside from the two Reeve blow-ups, it was not a particularly contentious game officiating-wise. I would say it was relatively serene compared to your average WNBA game. Not saying the officiating was perfect, but there wasn't a lot of complaining.

I think all these things are accurate, but even in a perfect system, you're not getting *different* referees, because the only people doing this job are 99th percentile weirdos who love the sport so much, they're willing to go out every night to arenas full of people telling them they suck.

They call it tight and the complaint becomes "let them play." They relax those calls and players inevitably start mugging each other because they can and it's "refs need to get a hold of the game." The main constant is the complaining.

Career free throw rates for tonight's Lynx/Merc players Alyssa (Pho) - .431 Satou (Pho) - .364 DeWanna (Pho) - .361 Phee (Min) - .306 Kahleah (Pho) - .295 Kayla (Min) - .280 Natisha (Min) - .192 MAM (Pho) - .154 Kliundukova (Min) - .150 Bridget (Min) - .146 Sami (Pho) - .123 Courtney (Min) - .098

The problem with WNBA refs is a familiar one; lack of resources, compensation and support.

Cathy needs to open the box with all the good referees that she's hoarding and she needs to do it right now!

Copper to the Jonas Brothers lmao

Obligatory:

But anyway, great win by Phoenix. I do feel like Cheryl gave up on Alanna too quickly; she's too much a part of how this team functions. Even if she's struggling, they should adjust, switch coverages, find different ways to get her going. If she's not there, you're missing a key skill set.

Once in a while, you're reminded that Cheryl Reeve is part of the Bill Laimbeer coaching tree. #WNBA

Hope Phee is okay. Minnesota is far from done. No need to get wracked by a loss. They've been business all year, just need to keep being about business.

Uh, caption this?

BC stopped smiling, oh now you've fucking done it.

It's not great when you can't keep the co-DPOY on the floor because of defense.

I'm going to be so wired after this game, man, I'm not getting to bed until tomorrow.

Minnesota having a meltdown?

What a great game.

Can't imagine this causing any problems out on the road, good job, team.

Louvre, please make room.

The trash-talking in this series is sensational, don't get involved, refs.

Hulu is not showing an ESPN halftime show if there is one. We're just getting silent shots of the court during the timeout.

Don't understand the defensive matchup choices by Minnesota late in the half. Carleton's been on Copper most of the series, but because Phoenix went small they slid her to Westbeld and left CWilliams on Copper - who lit Williams up. Just put Williams on Westbeld. Not like she's gonna post up. #WNBA

Favorite so far.

It's Kahleah Copper time.

Sensational defense from Phoenix so far.

SAMI MOTHERFATHER CHINESE DENTIST WHITCOMB

Caption this.

LMAO

[at my second rodeo] listen up you ignorant sack of shit

So we have the Jewell Loyd Revenge Series, the NaLyssa Smith Revenge Series. If the Aces advance, we need to find a player that Minnesota gave up on.

NaLyssa Smith was 10-26 combined in four straight losses to Indiana this season, against the team that gave up on her after taking her #2 overall. 15-22 for 34 points in the last two games as her Revenge/Redemption series takes off. #WNBA

This is a very weird "down-by-ten" lineup for Indiana.

LET'S FUCKING GOOOOOOO

I'm not going to complain about this because it's an evil loop, but the officiating is not going our way tonight.

Jewell Loyd winning the Tip Hayes That Fucking Looked Like It Hurt Award

Jackie is awesome on deep routes, Indy didn't have the scout for that.

Aces have six players they can trust(*) right now, that's enough, right? (*)Three of them are Jewell Loyd, NaLyssa Smith and Dana Evans. It's fine. IT'S FINE.

I have to give it up for Steph White's game planning. Indy has effectively taken away the Aces transition game. They are being aggressively physical and daring the refs to call everything, knowing that slowing it down to a grinding pace works in their favor. Becky needs to find a counter.

So I see this is the Jackie Young “fuck it I’ll do it myself” game #wnba

🤷🏿‍♂️

Don't know if I ever imagined myself saying this, but yes, foul Lexie Hull out, she's killing us.

Lexie Hull coming out (basketball-wise) party.

In our pod this past week @robocoko.bsky.social said it best. Aliyah makes A'ja take tough shots. A'ja is just really good at making tough shots. She's missing them today, but I don't think she'll keep missing them at the same rate.

A'ja Wilson now 17-51 for the series. I know I keep asking for more from Boston on offense, but you can't argue with what she's managing to achieve on the defensive end. #WNBA

A'ja is 1-11 and we are up by one somehow. I am fine with this game. Just keep playing defense. A'ja will get untracked.

Feels like you gotta be better than -8 on the scoreboard when A’ja Wilson is 1-10 from the field

Nobody's blocking out.

Meg Tough!