LeBron, hoops world rip refs over late Iowa-UConn call
A controversial and pivotal foul call near the conclusion of Friday's Final Four tilt between Iowa and UConn caused a lot of consternation.
With seconds remaining and Iowa leading by one point, the referees called an offensive foul on UConn forward Aaliyah Edwards. As a result, Caitlin Clark and Iowa were able to kill the remainder of the clock, sealing a 71-69 victory.
This was called an offensive foul on Aaliyah Edwards.
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) April 6, 2024
🎥 @espn | #WFinalFour pic.twitter.com/WcjbUsUvhO
The Huskies clearly didn't agree with the foul call. After the game, Edwards told reporters, including UConn WBB Weekly's Daniel Connolly, that "it was pretty clean" from her point of view. Head coach Geno Auriemma was also far from pleased.
"There's probably an illegal screen call that you could make on every single possession. I just know that there were three or four of them called on us and I don't think there were any called on them," said Auriemma. "So I guess we just got to get better at not setting illegal screens."
Social media lit up with ire about the call. WNBA legends Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi voiced their displeasure, as well as Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, Las Vegas Aces' Kelsey Plum, and many others.
Diana Taurasi called the end of Iowa/UConn a terrible call
— Alex 👋 (@Dubs408) April 6, 2024
pic.twitter.com/qjQjVQrcaz
NAAAAAHHHHHH!!! I ain’t rolling with that call.
— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 6, 2024
To call that on a game deciding play is so wrong WOW
— Kelsey Plum (@Kelseyplum10) April 6, 2024
wait was that screen not set clean?
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) April 6, 2024
I hate the end of that game. That's a damn shame. Iowa came to play and so did UConn. That's absolutely NOT how you determine a game like this.
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) April 6, 2024
The ref that called that foul should not be able to work another final four for a min! That was horrible and didn't let the players determine the outcome! I'm sick for those players... a hot mess!
— Swin Cash (@SwinCash) April 6, 2024
Yep… @Andraya_Carter said what we are ALL thinking on that UCONN foul #NCAAWBB
— Justin van Sant (@justinvansant) April 6, 2024
“That call sucked, @notthefakeSVP” pic.twitter.com/XadQGpzmaE
That’s a BS call
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) April 6, 2024
You call that? 🤔
— Victor Oladipo (@VicOladipo) April 6, 2024
Nah they rigging this!! You can not call that!!
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) April 6, 2024
Even Jonathan the Husky, UConn's official mascot, weighed in shortly after the game.
I know I’m new to this but where was the foul? So proud of what @UConnWBB accomplished this season and especially tonight. Huskies hold your heads high. What an amazing team! 💙 pic.twitter.com/s5XkpXttEC
— Jonathan the Husky (@JonathanHusky_) April 6, 2024