NBA G League referees Ryan “RJ” Johnson, Ken Jones, Leah Lanie, Genesis Perrymond and Josh Reed have been named WNBA staff officials for the 2026 season

The WNBA knew it had an officiating problem last season. What the league may not have expected is how quickly its attempt to fix that problem would create a brand-new debate across the sport. After years of complaints about missed calls,

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark admitted she sometimes crashes out at WNBA officials. "I do," she said when Candace Parker suggested "you crash out sometimes" on the latest episode of Post Moves with Candace Parker & Aliyah Boston.

Clark backed the WNBA’s new officiating emphasis. Caitlin Clark has spent much of her young WNBA career playing with emotion on full display, and officials have often found themselves caught in the middle of it.

League leadership told SI that the increase in calls was expected and it will take time for everyone to adjust to new guidelines.

The WNBA established a task force to help solve its officiating woes. Alika Jenner / No Offseason Newsletter 🏀 | This is The Athletic’s women’s basketball newsletter. Sign up here to receive No Offseason directly in your inbox.

We're not even a full week into the 2026 WNBA season, but it's fair to say the league has an officiating problem on its hands. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert talked about wanting to make officiating changes during All-Star Weekend last July.

PORTLAND, Ore. — The WNBA’s attempt to crack down on physical play this season has spurred frustration among some players, coaches and fans in the first week of action. But league officials believe this is just part of the “feeling out period” that’s inevitable with change.

In her first preseason WNBA game with the Dallas Wings, former UConn women’s basketball star Azzi Fudd got her ‘welcome to the league’ moment from the referees. Fudd, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft,