Fans, media flame officiating at women’s national championship between LSU and Iowa

Stop us if you’ve heard this before: college officials are inserting themselves into an otherwise wildly entertaining game of basketball early.

LSU’s Angel Reese and Iowa’s McKenna Warnock both have 2 fouls at the end of the 1st quarter, and both teams have combined for 12 total fouls in just 10 minutes of play. And we’re not talking about hard fouls either, these are painfully tacky whistles that are slowing an otherwise fast-paced and offensive game.

Both teams are shooting better than 50% from the field. Iowa’s Caitlin Clark has already scored 14 and Reese has added 7 points of her own.

Officiating has been a problem in college sports for some time, and those on social media are not letting them hear the end of it early. Hopefully the stripes hold their whistles moving forward.

“Let them play” was trending on Twitter following the end of the first quarter. Here’s some examples why.

Let them play, refs. You can’t eliminate star players like that.

— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) April 2, 2023

HORRIBLE CALL on Angel Reese to pick up her 2nd!!!! WOW!!! What is this crew doing??? Both centers in foul trouble. Let them play, it’s ok if it’s physical inside!!! #FinalFour2023 #WBB

— Ron Slay (@TheRonSlay) April 2, 2023

There were 12 fouls called in the first quarter… ridiculous

— Cora Hall (@corahalll) April 2, 2023

I couldn’t care less who wins the Iowa-LSU game, but the number of whistles in the first quarter are a horrible advertisement for women’s basketball.

— Milton Kent (@SportsAtLarge) April 2, 2023

Did the NCAA purposely choose the worst possible officiating crew for the National Championship game? Because it absolutely feels like it.

— Nathanael Rutherford (@Mr_Rutherford) April 2, 2023

I’m gonna need the refs to stop ruining this game.

— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) April 2, 2023

Yeah I’m gonna need these refs to calm down

— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) April 2, 2023

These refs out here bout to foul LSU whole team out.

— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) April 2, 2023

The refs better not start this shii . It is about the players , not y’all ?

— AJ Brown (@1kalwaysopen_) April 2, 2023

These refs are SO not ready for this moment. Good god they are brutal

— Connor McCaffery (@connor_m30) April 2, 2023

These Refs about to become a bigger story than Caitlin Clark and that’s not a good thing.

— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) April 2, 2023

Surprise: You [the reader] just got called for a foul by the refs in this LSU-Iowa game

— Ella Brockway (@ellabrockway) April 2, 2023

Ethan Stone

Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.