Chicago Sky Coach Blasts WNBA Officiating After Cardoso Plays Entire Game Without Free Throw Attempt

Chicago Sky head coach Tyler Marsh expressed sharp displeasure with WNBA officials following his team’s 106-101 loss to the Phoenix Mercury on Monday night. The frustration stemmed from a striking statistical anomaly: Cardoso, the team’s 6-foot-7 center, logged 28 minutes, launched 15 shots and competed extensively in the post without drawing a single free throw attempt.

Marsh did not mince words when addressing the discrepancy. “That was a joke. It’s a f—— joke. It’s a joke,” he said. “How many more games does she need to go without getting a free throw? It makes no sense. Zero sense.” Cardoso finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds while shooting 8 of 15 from the field, yet never reached the free-throw line.

The disparity in free-throw opportunities was stark: Phoenix attempted 40 while Chicago managed 25. However, Marsh was careful to distinguish between his specific complaint and broader officiating failures. He acknowledged that Chicago had been defensively undisciplined and was not suggesting that all of Phoenix’s free throws were undeserved.

Cardoso’s predicament represents part of a larger pattern of controversial officiating decisions this season. In June, Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas struck Caitlin Clark in the throat during a loose-ball scramble, a no-call that prompted the league to later suspend Thomas for a Flagrant Foul 2 violation. Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White had called that decision “absolutely egregious and utterly disrespectful.”

Another incident occurred Sunday when Sophie Cunningham took an elbow to the face from Minnesota’s Nia Coffey, yet officials called the foul on Cunningham. The call was reviewed but upheld, leaving the penalty on the player who absorbed the contact rather than the one who delivered it.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert acknowledged the officiating challenges during All-Star media availability, pledging that the league reviews all significant non-calls and announcing plans for a fully centralized replay center launching in 2027. The investment, expected to cost tens of millions of dollars, aims to improve consistency and transparency. However, Engelbert noted the league has not committed to adopting the NBA’s Last Two Minute reports, which publicly document correct and incorrect calls in close game finishes.

Marsh’s critique extends beyond Monday’s game, reflecting growing concerns about inconsistent enforcement across the league. While replay center improvements may address some issues next season, they cannot immediately remedy the pattern of missed or incorrectly assessed fouls occurring throughout the current campaign, Marsh and other coaches have suggested.