Women's Hoops Blog

Jayda Evans covers college and pro women's basketball. While its her first year on the Washington beat, she has covered the Storm since its inception. She'll offer observations, critiques, occasional off-beat tales and answers to select e-mail inquires. Evans also has written a book on the Storm and women's hoops, called "Game On!"

Email| Subscribe|Blog Home

June 16, 2008 6:16 PM

Houston rewind

Posted by Jayda Evans

Well, Dee Kantner, WNBA supervisor of officials, is attending the Storm's game against Connecticut tonight. And as for the Houston flub her three-person crew had on Saturday, she wouldn't comment on the record. She did speak with coach Brian Agler, however.

"What we felt like happened, happened," Agler said. "We can't be accused of being blind. It can't be changed, so you've sort of got to move on."

Agler reviewed the tape and F Tina Thompson's key three-pointer shouldn't have counted because it was after the shot clock horn sounded. The jump ball directly over G Mwadi Mabika's head was also an error. But Seattle won't be awarded a win, so it just goes down as known mistakes when Seattle was making a push for the win in the closing seconds.

Kantner said she hasn't been to Reliant Arena, the Comets' new facility, so she doesn't know what the crew went through. In the crew's defense, the arena doesn't have backboards that fully light up when the shot clock horn sounds, making the Thompson call difficult. The horn was also a light sound, competing with a loud crowd. "But they knew that going in," Agler said.

I don't have a bone to throw for Roy Gulbeyan's jump ball toss, however. I did learn that officials are fined, starting at $25 each for missed applied rules. They are not fined for judgement calls and both the jump ball and three-pointer were judgment calls.

If fans are still upset for their team, guess what, Kantner will speak at a season-ticket holder function in Seattle on July 27.

"I can't believe I just gave you the 411 on that," Kantner said.

Yep, me neither, so get your questions ready and note that they can't be specific. But she's willing to answer any general query.

Digg | Newsvine