Caitlin Clark calls for full-time WNBA referees as officiating failures mount in 2026

During last year’s All-Star Weekend, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert promised the league would fix its officiating problem . But nearly two months into the 2026 season, it appears everything is still a mess. Last year, poor officiating became one of the league's biggest storylines, overshadowing everything from playoff races to the WNBA Finals. Coaches publicly blasted referees, players openly questioned the consistency of calls, and Engelbert eventually acknowledged that something had to chan