In a season full of controversies related to officiating, another chapter was written as the Chicago Sky faced off against the Connecticut Sun. Usually, it’s the players arguing or coming at the referees, with the coaching staff trying to hold them back. This time around, however, the roles were reversed as the as head coach, Tyler Marsh, was being held back by his own Chicago Sky roster. Sure enough, many understood his reaction while some WNBA analysts disagreed with the way he acted out.

The incident was discussed at length during the latest edition of the No Offseason: The Athletic Women’s Basketball Show by Zena Keita and Sabreena Merchant. Interestingly, coach Marsh is one of the ex-interviewees of the show, back in November 2024. However, Merchant did not hesitate to call out their former guest and his ‘crash out’ against the Connecticut Sun.

Speaking on the podcast, Merchant said that Tyler Marsh should not have reacted in that way. She said, “I don’t know that Tyler Marsh needed to necessarily go at the refs in that particular manner. I think crash out is exactly the word to describe it. You rarely see coaches restrained by their players, but the surprise on Angel’s face and Courtney’s face like ‘what is happening’?” Sure, a coach should not react in such an aggressive manner, but in the heat of the battle, these kinds of things do happen. There have been plenty of examples from coaches in the league going at the refs this season. Stephanie White, Cheryl Reeves, Chris Koclanes have all done it and received a technical foul in return.

The incident happened with 8 minutes left in the second quarter. With the Chicago Sky already down 33-20, as Elizabeth Williams caught Ariel Atkins’ pass and drove to the basket, she was grabbed by Sun’s Aliyah Edwards in a way that would normally be a foul. However, the officiating crew seemed to miss the call, and as Marina Mabrey drove to the other side, coach Marsh charged towards the refs, swinging his hands in the air. Naturally, for his reaction, he was ejected. In his post-game press conference, he justified his reactions.

Speaking to the reporters, Marsh said, “I feel like we’ve been getting the short end of the stick all year. Every time that I’ve gotten a tech this year has been in support of our players. There’s no accountability on the other side (refereeing) of it and that’s the breaking point.” While this ejection may have come at the price of some criticism and a heavy fine, there are some benefits as well. When players see how passionately a coach is standing up for them, it can bring the roster together. Sure, this season may have been a wash for the Chicago Sky, but moments like these can build a team-first culture in the locker room. 

Other Examples of Coaches Calling Out Officials During the 2025 WNBA Season

While Tyler Marsh is the latest one, he is certainly not the only one to call out the referees for their ‘poor standards’ this year. For the majority of the season, fans, players and coaches alike have been bringing up officiating issues. This issue was even compounded due to so many injuries. Caitlin Clark, Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, and Sophie Cunningham are just a few examples of players who have missed extended time due to injuries this year. 

Before the Tyler Marsh incident, many other coaches had spoken out against this issue. Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White has called the refs out on a number of occasions. One of her famous quotes about refereeing came after the infamous eye poke by Jacy Sheldon against Caitlin Clark. She said, “Everyone is getting better-but the officials. We need to remedy that. I mean, we’ve heard every coach talk about it. I don’t know what the answer is.”

Like her, Dallas Wings head coach Chris Koclanes has also asked for more protection for players. He said, “How many times does she (Paige Bueckers) have to be on the ground before she gets protection?” Lack of protection for players is a concern that fans and some analysts, as well, have been talking about for a long time. 

The WNBA has been the fastest-growing sports league in the last couple of years. The league is signing record-breaking deals and is set to include five more franchises. With the pressure regarding the CBA negotiations already there, the league needs to find a solution for this officiating problem. A year without the star players on the court with an impending lockdown could derail the momentum the league has worked so hard to build.