When we said Unrivaled was going to make an impact on the WNBA, we were obviously talking about the good stuff—the salary boost, the top-tier amenities, all that. But now, athletes are worried it might bring along something we definitely don’t want: the officiating drama. And, well, Fever’s newest addition to the Caitlin Clark-led squad already seems to be calling it out…

But before get to that, we must absolutely tell you about the irony of the situation. As the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty’s championship run trickled down to Game 5 on October 20 last year, what the community didn’t anticipate was the controversy about to unfold.

In 5.2 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter—when the Lynx led 60-58—Alanna Smith was whistled for a shooting foul on Breanna Stewart. While it was amply clear that Stewart had clearly traveled before the foul, the deal was said and done. The verdict? Two free throws for Stewart, who tied the game 60-60 sending it into overtime. Ultimately, Liberty capitalized heavily on the situation racking up their first WNBA championship with a 67-62 scoreline. But, as expected, the Lynx locker room was fuming.

In a post-game press conference, Cheryl Reeve fumed, “It’s a shame that officiating had such a hand in a series like this,” before adding, “All the headlines will be, ‘Reeve cries foul.’ Bring it on, right?” Reeve said after the game. “Bring it on, because this s***was stolen from us. Bring it on.” The controversy even reached the NBA with LeBron James immediately tweeting, “I’m sorry but that wasn’t a foul! Let the damn players dictate the outcome of a close battled tested game. 🤦🏾‍♂️”.

A couple of weeks later, Napheesa Collier also weight in on the situation, describing the incident as “terrible”, “egregious”, and “injustice”. The irony is less than three months later, the 28-year-old was partnering with the same rival who had handed her team the big L, to make their Unrivaled dream their reality. “It got spicy between co-founders for a little bit,” Stewart had honestly confessed in a conversation with TIME Magazine last month.

While the new three-on-three women’s pro basketball league tipped off on January 17, it wasn’t long before controversy reached here, too.

No Signs of Caitlin Clark Effect Fading at Iowa as UCLA Coach Lavishes Praise After Close Victory

We know that officiating in Unrivaled has been a serious talking point lately. It all started with Angel Reese’s ejection in Week 3—the first in the league’s history. Reese got hit with two quick techs in a Rose BC vs. Laces BC showdown and was sent packing.

Then came the Mist vs. Phantom game, where a crucial late-game technical on Phantom coach Adam Harrington completely flipped the outcome. And if that wasn’t enough, the league’s 1-on-1 tournament saw a foul call send Courtney Williams to the next round while leaving Rhyne Howard stunned.

These incidents have raised serious questions about the consistency (or lack thereof) in officiating. But if we look at it from a broader perspective, technical fouls have been climbing all over the basketball world lately, be it NBA, WNBA, or college basketball. The W saw a whopping 92 techs handed out before the All-Star break last season, surpassing the total for the entire previous year. Even in the WNBA Finals, controversial calls had players and coaches heated. So, no wonder Brianna Turner is concerned.

Turner, who just signed with Indiana, took to X to voice her concerns about the refs in Unrivaled. “While Unrivaled refs have a tendency to hand out techs often, I’m just hopeful that means they won’t deal out as many during the W season. They’re getting all of them out now 🥲.” Safe to say, she’s hoping all these calls stay in Unrivaled and don’t follow into the WNBA season, especially because she finds some of the refs a little too familiar from last season.

As for Turner, she’s never actually received a technical in college or the pros. Instead, she’s more of a peacemaker, often stepping in between teammates and refs to cool things down. And now that she’s in Indiana, fans predict she might have to do that a lot.

Brianna Turner brings her defense & playoff experience to Caitlin Clark & Co.

Officiating concerns aside, the Indiana Fever just got some solid frontcourt depth with Turner’s addition, which fills a glaring gap in their roster. Chicago Sky former has officially signed with the Fever, though details about the contract’s protections aren’t yet available. All we know is this isn’t just a training camp deal.

The two-time WNBA All-Defensive First Team member will reunite with former Phoenix Mercury teammates Sophie Cunningham and DeWanna Bonner in Indiana. She is expected to provide much-needed support behind likely starters Aliyah Boston and Natasha Howard.

The 6’3” forward was the No. 11 pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft out of Notre Dame and spent five years in Phoenix, where she was mostly a starter. Despite not having a WNBA championship to her name, she has plenty of playoff experience. She made the postseason in four of her five seasons with Phoenix, including a Finals run in 2021.

But things took a turn in 2024 when she was traded to the Chicago Sky. With rookies Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese taking up most of the frontcourt minutes, the 28-year-old’s role shrank. She only started two games and averaged just 1.2 points and 2.0 rebounds in 27 appearances.

USA Today via Reuters

Indiana, however, sees her as a key piece in strengthening their defense. Fever GM Amber Cox emphasized Turner’s shot-blocking, rebounding, and high basketball IQ as reasons for bringing her in. She’s got the experience, and with the Fever pushing to be a serious contender, that veteran presence could be invaluable.

Turner herself is excited about the move. She shared that she was “drawn to the team’s commitment to investing in women and providing the best professional atmosphere for success.” 

Now, the goal is clear- help the Fever make a deep playoff run in 2025. And after last season’s struggles with Reese and the Sky, Turner will be hoping for a much bigger impact this time around.