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Which league has the worst referees? SEC vs. WNBA

Kentucky fans are no strangers to yelling at the TV over questionable calls, but is SEC officiating really worse than the WNBA’s? In the 2024-25 season, SEC games have been bogged down by fouls—take Alabama vs. Texas A&M, where refs called 58 personal fouls, leading to 88 free throws and a grueling 2-hour, 48-minute game. Kentucky’s own clash with Texas A&M saw 56 free throws, including technicals for minor infractions like Jaxson Robinson’s comment to the bench. The SEC’s collaborative replay system doesn’t help, with reviews like a 90-second clock adjustment stalling momentum. Meanwhile, the WNBA sees fewer stoppages but struggles with inconsistent refs. While the SEC’s whistle-happy crews disrupt flow, the WNBA’s less experienced refs miss calls altogether. Which is worse?
ByDrew Holbrook|
Kentucky head coach Mark Pope questioned a referee during the game against Auburn in SEC basketball at Rupp Arena Saturday afternoon in Lexington, Kentucky March 1, 2025
Kentucky head coach Mark Pope questioned a referee during the game against Auburn in SEC basketball at Rupp Arena Saturday afternoon in Lexington, Kentucky March 1, 2025 | Matt Stone/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

It's not easy to be a good referee

Let’s be fair from the jump: officiating is a tough gig. Referees are tasked with watching ten elite athletes moving at lightning speed from every angle, all while fans, coaches, and players scream at them. You're going to miss calls. You're going to overreact sometimes. That's part of the job.

But when officiating stops being the occasional human mistake and starts becoming a weekly storyline, that's when we have a problem. And in 2025, no two leagues have made officiating more of a controversy than SEC men’s basketball and the WNBA.

Kelsey Plum, Ashley Gloss
Golden State Valkyries v Los Angeles Sparks | Katelyn Mulcahy/GettyImages

So, which league truly takes the crown for the worst referees in the game? Let’s break it down.

The case against SEC officiating

There’s physical basketball, and then there’s the SEC.

Buzz Williams
Texas A&M v Tennessee | Andy Lyons/GettyImages

Associate commissioner of basketball Garth Glissman was responding to criticism when he said, “More fouls were called in SEC Conference games (36.9 per game) and FTs attempted (43.7) than any other power conference this season". Not sure if that is a thing to brag about considering nearly everyone from Jay Bilas to Jay Williams are talking about how it will hurt their tournament chances. Just look at a few examples from 2024–25:

  • Alabama vs. Texas A&M: 58 personal fouls. 88 free throw attempts. Nearly three hours of gameplay.
  • Georgia vs. Arkansas: 49 fouls. 63 free throws. Game length: 2 hours, 34 minutes.
  • Kentucky vs. Texas A&M: 56 combined free throws, 44 combined fouls. Two technical fouls, including one on UK’s Jaxson Robinson for clapping.

SEC games this season are averaging 2 hours, 23 minutes, the longest among major conferences. Laregely in part to reviews and just foul fests in the second half of games.

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And remember that infamous moment when a ref followed Mark Pope down the sideline (video at the bottom) like a WWE rival waiting to pounce? That was less about game control and more about personal ego.

The SEC problem isn’t just about volume — it’s about inconsistency and an overemphasis on control. Coaches and players can’t find rhythm when refs inject themselves into every possession.

The Case against WNBA officiating

The WNBA’s referee problem stems from a different source: inexperience and inconsistency.

With a high turnover rate — largely due to officials jumping to the NBA per the NY Times — the WNBA often features less seasoned referees. The Athletic recently noted that women’s basketball lacks a unified development pipeline for officials, meaning there's no consistent grooming system like in men’s D-League or G-League basketball.

Isaac Barnett, Lynne Roberts
Minnesota Lynx v Los Angeles Sparks | Ronald Martinez/GettyImages

The result? Games are often subject to wildly different officiating styles, making it hard for players to know what to expect.

Exhibit A: Caitlin Clark getting called for an offensive foul when a defender slipped (video at the bottom). No push, no contact — just a star player penalized for someone else’s misstep.

While game durations are shorter than the SEC’s marathon slogs, the WNBA suffers from a credibility problem: fans often leave games questioning whether refs understand how to manage high-level competition.

So, which league has the worst referees?

It’s a close call — pun intended.

The SEC has the highest quantity of referee interference: more fouls, more reviews, and longer games.

The WNBA suffers more from quality control: younger crews, no training consistency, and wild week-to-week variation.

If we’re grading on who disrupts the game more visibly, the SEC wins — or loses — this battle. When every drive to the hoop turns into a whistle, and every clap becomes a technical, fans aren’t watching basketball. They’re watching a referee show. And then the missed calls when there should be a foul, just demoralizing.

But don’t let the WNBA off the hook. Until it builds a developmental pipeline and ensures consistent rule enforcement across games, officiating will continue to hinder the league’s growth.

Your Turn: Who’s Worse?

Below are some videos of some of the worst calls from both leagues. From Caitlin Clark’s ghost foul to Mark Pope’s sideline stalker — the evidence is all there.

Let us know: Which league has the worst officials — SEC men’s basketball or the WNBA?

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