The WNBA fined Phoenix Mercury president Vince Kozar an undisclosed amount on Friday for a tweet criticizing officiating after his team’s 90-80 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday.
“The officiating on display in Phoenix tonight was an embarrassment to this league, unworthy of its players and unfair to its fans,” he tweeted. “And everyone knows exactly who I’m talking about.”
Phoenix guard Skylar Diggins-Smith was ejected after committing two technical fouls with 7 minutes, 48 seconds remaining in the game. First, she was called for a foul on Jordin Canada, then she waved her arms briefly in protest, ran away from the play, and official Cheryl Flores called her a technical foul. She then returned to the court clapping her hands and Flores called for another technique, causing her to be ejected.
Later in the fourth quarter, Phoenix’s Diana Taurasi was given a foul call raised to a flagrant 1 foul after an umpires review.
Diggins-Smith, an All-Star candidate and league MVP this season, finished with 27 points and six assists. Taurasi had 30 points and six rebounds for the Mercury, who are sixth in the WNBA.