Bad calls are part of the game, but for the New York Liberty, they’re becoming a recurring headline. From Breanna Stewart’s infamous travel to the controversial officiating in the 2024 Finals that had Cheryl Reeve declaring the championship “stolen,” Liberty games seem to magnetize chaos at the whistle. Now, fans are raising eyebrows again after their preseason clash with the Connecticut Sun, where questionable calls and a bruising level of physicality have reignited debates about WNBA officiating, or so they say.

Tina Charles turned back the clock on Friday as the Connecticut Sun veteran bullied her way through the paint in a fiery 94-86 preseason win over the New York Liberty. With Breanna Stewart resting, Charles wasted no time dominating down low—dropping 17 points, snatching six boards, and dishing three assists. At 36, she didn’t stretch the floor like today’s modern bigs—she owned it the old-school way.

The WNBA’s all-time rebounding leader (4014 rebounds, Source: WNBA Stats) was everywhere, reminding fans exactly why she was once the league MVP. Her homecoming in Connecticut has nostalgic value, but her impact looked anything but dated. Even the league’s social media gave her a shout-out, calling her “a presence in the paint.”

But not all eyes were on the stats. Fans couldn’t ignore the no-calls, hard fouls, and eyebrow-raising officiating. Charles may be back in the spotlight—but so is the league’s most unspoken rivalry: players vs. the whistle.

Fans sound off on ref calls in New York Liberty vs. Sun preseason matchup

One fan posted: “Refs letting them play out there tonight. Of course, as I type that Gardner’s charged with a foul. #WNBA #LightItUpNYL” The New York Liberty picked up 24 fouls, while the Sun had 15—noticeable, yes, but not outrageous. That said, the free-throw numbers told a different story: the Sun shot 19-of-23 from the line, while the Liberty went just 9-of-15.

Most notably, Olivia Nelson-Ododa led all players with a 7-of-8 performance at the stripe—a standout stat in a preseason game. Whether that’s a sign of aggressive post-play or favorable whistles depends on who you ask… but fans noticed the discrepancy.

Another viewer compared things to NBA chaos: “NBA refs should be completely replaced with AI. They s—! Referring tonight to the OKC & Denver game. The WNBA refs are even worse.” Sure, AI isn’t ready to replace human refs, but hey—it couldn’t do worse than Game 2 between Denver and OKC. Even Aaron Gordon said, “They’re fouling, point blank period, throughout the game.”

More heat came online: “BRO F— THESE REFS THEY DONE P—– ME OFF.” Still, Friday’s Liberty-Sun bout wasn’t nearly as unruly. Players were physical, yes, but the whistles were mostly on point. Both teams combined for 26 fouls in Q2 and Q3—but that’s preseason hustle, not scandal.

When one fan asked, “Why the refs letting Sab beat on Lindsey like this?? #wnba” — Well, both Sabrina and Lindsay finished with just two personal fouls each. Even Rebekah Gardner kept it chill post-game: “They were aggressive… it was loud, we had to overcommunicate. But I think we’ll get that chemistry.” Rough? A little. Unwatchable? Not even close. For a preseason game missing stars like Breanna Stewart, this one still packed fire, and fans definitely noticed.