Golden State beat Atlanta sixty-four to fifty-five. Game 5 of the WNBA Finals. The Valkyries are one win from the title. It’s on the sheet.
Then, the statements. Karl Smesko believes several fouls on Angel Reese were not called, and that double dribbles and travels by the Valkyries went through. He said: “You can’t be at this level and make so many mistakes.” Angel Reese believes the treatment changed after Atlanta went 2-1 up in the series. Natalie Nakase, on the other side, said: “It’s part of the game. I’m not surprised at all.”
I don’t give opinions. The referee whistles, I note. I look at what was noted. The Dream had been awarded 116 free throws in four games, twenty-nine a night. In Game 5, fourteen. Their lowest total of the playoffs. Angel Reese took four fouls in Game 4, four in Game 5. The fouls that were called are all on a sheet somewhere. The others have no column.
At our place, on the Herve plateau, near Verviers, a coach who objects comes to the table at half-time. I show him the sheet. He looks at it, he leaves. It was signed by both captains, and after that nobody goes back to it. Over there, they have a microphone and a tomorrow. Game 6 is Thursday, in Atlanta. Same rules, new sheet.
Noted: Dream free throws, fourteen. Uncalled fouls, no column.
It’s true, we checked: Basket USA.
