Sky coach Tyler Marsh blasts WNBA referees after Kamilla Cardoso gets zero free throws: ‘It was a joke’
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Sky coach Tyler Marsh blasts WNBA referees after Kamilla Cardoso gets zero free throws: ‘It was a joke’ originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Chicago Sky’s frustration with WNBA officiating reached a boiling point Monday night. Sky coach Tyler Marsh tore into the referees after Chicago’s 106-101 loss to the Phoenix Mercury, delivering a profane response when asked about the treatment of center Kamilla Cardoso.
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Cardoso finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds, recording another double-double while playing a prominent role around the basket. Despite her physical presence in the paint, however, she did not attempt a single free throw.
Marsh made it clear that he found that difficult to accept.
“It was a joke. It was a f—ing joke. It’s a joke,” Marsh told reporters. “How many more games does she need to go without getting a free throw? It makes no sense. Zero sense.”
The disparity was particularly striking when viewed alongside the final team totals. Chicago attempted 25 free throws, making 17, while Phoenix went 31-of-40 from the line.
Tyler Marsh calls out treatment of Kamilla Cardoso
Marsh did not argue that every whistle favoring Phoenix was incorrect. The Mercury played aggressively and repeatedly put pressure on Chicago’s defense, while the Sky struggled to avoid sending their opponent to the line.
His frustration centered more specifically on Cardoso receiving no opportunities of her own.
“We could have been more disciplined,” Marsh said. “Put them on the line 40 times. Not saying the officials made 40 wrong calls or 20 wrong calls or whatever it is. Not saying that at all.”
Marsh then pointed to Cardoso’s effort and her usual demeanor when interacting with officials.
“For her to play as hard as she does consistently, she doesn’t give much pushback to the officials,” he said. “I try to talk as calmly as I can to officials before it gets out of hand. It’s a joke.”
Cardoso’s statistical line supports Marsh’s argument that she remained heavily involved in the action. The 6-7 center collected 13 rebounds and scored 16 points without receiving the benefit of one shooting foul.
That combination helps explain why Marsh’s frustration did not sound like a routine complaint following a close loss. In his view, Cardoso’s lack of free throws has become a recurring issue rather than an isolated officiating decision.
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Sky’s frustrations extend beyond the officiating
The loss dropped Chicago to 11-19 and added another painful result to a difficult season. The Sky remained competitive against Phoenix and scored 101 points, but their defensive fouls helped the Mercury repeatedly manufacture points at the line. Marsh acknowledged his team’s responsibility in that area. Even so, a five-point loss becomes harder to digest when the opponent holds a 15-attempt advantage at the free-throw line and one of Chicago’s most important interior players never gets there.
The Sky coach could now face discipline from the WNBA. The league has fined coaches and players for public criticism of officials in the past, and Marsh’s explicit language could attract additional attention.
Any potential punishment will not change his underlying concern.
Cardoso is one of the biggest players in the league and does much of her work around the rim. Marsh believes that style of play should produce more trips to the free-throw line, particularly when she is battling through contact for shots and rebounds.
Chicago may not be able to recover the calls it wanted against Phoenix, but Marsh ensured that Cardoso’s treatment will receive greater scrutiny in the Sky’s next game.
He may eventually have to pay for how he delivered the message. There was no mistaking what that message was.