Despite the bevy of star power in the national championship Sunday afternoon between LSU and Iowa, much of the focus of one of the biggest games in women's basketball history wound up being on the officials.
Questionable foul calls rained down on both teams. None was more controversial than a technical foul on Iowa guard Caitlin Clark late in the third quarter after she threw the ball behind her back to the baseline after a foul call against Iowa. The call helped sap tentative momentum from the Hawkeyes, and LSU wound up a 102-85 winner.
After the game, referee Lisa Jones took time to explain the call to reporters.
"Iowa received a delay of game warning in the third period at the 7:28 mark for batting the ball away after a made basket, causing a delay," Jones explained.
Clark's action shortly thereafter constituted a second offense, leading the officials to whistle her for a technical.
Postgame comment from referee Lisa Jones, asked by pool reporter about the technical foul called on Caitlin Clark: pic.twitter.com/UfymUfIPvO
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) April 2, 2023
Jones's comments shed some light on the officials' reasoning, but appear likely to do little to calm an enraged sports world.
