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WNBA fans can’t believe controversial referee has been picked for Dream vs. Valkyries finals clash

The WNBA Finals will feature the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries battling for their first-ever championship, with Game 1 set to begin Saturday in San Francisco after a week-long delay. The series has already sparked controversy, however, as referee Kevin Fahy was included on the officiating roster despite his recent involvement in a highly criticized call during the Dream’s playoff series against the New York Liberty.

In that game, Fahy denied a timeout request from Breanna Stewart, leading to an unnecessary heave on the final play instead of advancing the ball past half-court. The WNBA later acknowledged the incident in a statement, admitting to a breakdown in communication among players, referees, and coaches, though the explanation did little to ease fan frustration.

Social media erupted with outrage, with many questioning the league’s decision to assign Fahy to the Finals, calling it a failure to address the issue. Other referees on the list, including Timothy Green, also faced backlash for past errors, with critics pointing to excessive foul calls in recent Dream games.

The officiating team was selected by the WNBA Referee Operations Management Team, with league officials defending their choices as earned selections for the high-stakes matchup.

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