SAN FRANCISCO — Alyssa Thomas stood at the free throw line with one second remaining and the score tied between her Phoenix Mercury and the Golden State Valkyries, as boos from the Chase Center crowd rained down.
She missed the first free throw but swished the second, securing a 78-77 victory for Phoenix on Monday night — and drawing the ire of Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase, who didn’t hold back her disappointment that the game was decided at the line.
“It’s so unfortunate that they get a win off of a free throw with no defense,” Nakase said. “That’s tough.”
She continued: “To sit there and watch someone win a game off of a free throw, that’s a disservice. I’m just asking for consistency. I’m begging for consistency. Hey, if it’s because I’m a rookie coach, then I’ll take the loss. So, if I have to be better with the refs, if there’s a badge of honor that I have to earn, then I’ll do it. I’ll blame myself.”
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Thomas got to the line after a foul was called on Cecilia Zandalasini. Mercury guard Monique Akoa Makani passed the ball to Thomas just outside of the paint with two seconds left. As Thomas took a dribble, Zandalasini slid into the restricted area with both arms up.
As Thomas went up for her shot, the two made contact, and Zandalasini was immediately whistled for a foul.
“I saw absolutely no foul,” Nakase said. “The physicality of the game for Phoenix was 10 times more versus our physicality. I saw absolutely no foul … I believe you have to win off of great shots. That’s just part of it. So, I think we deserve that.”
The first half was a game of runs. The Valkyries got off to a slow start, outscored 12-2 in the opening minutes, but they closed the first quarter on an 18-4 run to lead 20-16.
Phoenix then outscored Golden State 11-3 in the final 4:43 of the first half to go up by four.
In the fourth quarter, the Mercury did not make a basket until the 5:38 mark, but the Valkyries couldn’t pull away.
For the game, Golden State made 14 3-pointers but shot just 33.8% from inside the arc, missing numerous layups and other shots close to the rim.
Janelle Salaun hit a tough 3-pointer with 10.3 seconds left in regulation to pull Golden State to within one. After a Thomas free throw, Salaun hit a baseline jumper to tie the score with 6.8 seconds left.
On the next possession, Thomas was fouled by Zandalasini and sealed the win on her second free throw attempt.
“I was so proud of the execution down the stretch, the fight, how hard we played — I couldn’t have asked for a better game. I really do believe that,” Nakase said. “I felt like we did the right things in a very crunch-time moment … it’s just losing off of a free throw, that to me hurts.”
Nakase joined a growing list of WNBA personnel who have called out the league’s officiating this season.
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese said last week it’s a problem that “has to be fixed.”
“I don’t give a damn if I get fined because that s— is cheap, and I’m tired of this s—,” Reese said. “‘Cause I’ve been nice, and I’ve been humble with it, but I am tired of this s—.”
Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum voiced her displeasure after a lack of calls in an overtime loss to the Valkyries on June 9.
“I got scratches on my face, I got scratches on my body, and these other guards on the other team get these ticky-tack fouls, and I’m sick of it,” Plum said.
Also last month, Indiana coach Stephanie White criticized the referees for not controlling the Fever’s game against the Connecticut Sun, which led to two scuffles and three ejections.
“When the officials don’t get control of the ballgame — when they allow this stuff to happen, and it’s been happening all season long … this is what happens,” White said.
