WNBA playoffs: Aces’ Becky Hammon says physicality is ‘out of control,’ would lead to fights in NBA
Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon told journalists that physicality in the WNBA 2025 playoffs was “out of control” and that the same level of contact and aggression would lead to fighting if this was happening in the NBA.
After the victory of AS 90-68 over Indiana fever in match 2 of their semi-final series, which is now entirely square at 1-1, Hammon was questioned about the intensity of the first two games of this match, and if the officials will be able to manage the atmosphere while the action changes to Indianapolis for matches 3 and 4.
Here are the entire Hammon comments:
“Physicality is out of control, that’s for sure. You can stick and enter a receiver in the NFL for these first five yards, but you can do it in the W for all half of the courtyard.
“Most of my assistants come from the NBA and they say to themselves:” It would not fly in the NBA. “This level of physics would not be able to fly in the NBA.
In the NBA and the WNBA, the eliminatory basketball is so intense and physical, especially in the last laps, which it sometimes looks like a sport different from the basketball of the regular season. Although everyone respects the competitiveness of players, there are times when games are transformed into SLOG due to the quantity of contact in progress.
In match 2 between ACE and fever, there were 41 faults (22 on Las Vegas, 19 on Indiana) and 36 free throws (21 for Las Vegas, 15 for Indiana), and the referees could easily call more than they had done.
The fever, for their part, expressed feelings similar to that of Hammon after the defeat.
“It looks like a physical game in each match, it feels like it was a physical season, but yes, I feel like I was a little more on the field this series,” said Lexie Hull. “But we continue to get up.”
“It seems honestly by some of the faults and the way it happened, it seems that we were almost too physical,” added Aliyah Boston. “But at the same time, I have the impression that we must be able to get it at the other end.”
None of the two teams will give an inch in the pivot match on Friday 3, and it will be fascinating to see how it is officiated.
