If you’ve been watching the WNBA this season, you’ve probably seen some officiating inconsistencies. But after Monday night’s sequence involving Breanna Stewart, fans are officially calling out the double standard — especially when comparing it to a no-call involving Caitlin Clark just days earlier.

Let’s break it down: Two plays. Two stars. Same contact. Very different whistles.

And the message it sends? Not great.

Caitlin Clark vs. Paopao – Where’s the Whistle?

In a recent game between the Indiana Fever and the Atlanta Dream, rookie sensation Caitlin Clark drove to the rim and was blatantly hacked by Angel Reese’s former LSU teammate, Te-Hina Paopao.

Fans saw:

Clear body contact

A forearm to the hip

No ball touched whatsoever

Yet… no foul. Play continued. And Caitlin, visibly frustrated, looked around in disbelief.

“If that’s not a foul, what is?” one analyst asked on the broadcast.
“She’s getting treated like a rookie in every possible way.”

This wasn’t the first time Caitlin has gotten the “welcome to the league” treatment from WNBA refs — but this one had fans especially heated.

Breanna Stewart’s Monday Night Whistle: Instant Reaction

Now, fast-forward to Monday night, where Breanna Stewart, the reigning MVP and face of the New York Liberty, took a similar drive into the paint.

The contact? Minimal. Maybe some light shoulder brush.
The result? Immediate whistle. Two free throws.

It took less than 0.3 seconds after contact for the official to blow the whistle. No hesitation. No confusion.

Fans quickly noticed the contrast:

“So Caitlin gets slammed, no call. Stewie gets touched, and it’s two shots? Make it make sense.”
“Same league, two completely different standards.”

The Double Standard Debate Is Heating Up

This isn’t just about one or two plays. It’s about consistency, and right now, many feel that rookies and non-veteran players are being officiated on a different scale.

Some questions being raised:

Are refs protecting veteran stars more aggressively?

Are rookies like Caitlin Clark being forced to “earn” foul calls?

Does the WNBA have an officiating culture problem — especially when national spotlight is involved?

Even non-Fever fans are starting to weigh in, saying “this hurts the game” and “makes the product look rigged or biased.”

Intentional or Unconscious Bias?

Officials may not be intentionally favoring Stewart over Clark — but the optics are bad. And perception matters.

Caitlin Clark isn’t just another rookie — she’s brought millions of new eyes to the WNBA. Every no-call, every missed whistle is being clipped, shared, and scrutinized.

And when those clips show clear contact ignored on one end and soft fouls called for vets on the other — the league starts to look inconsistent, or worse, political.

Fans, Analysts, and Players Are Speaking Up

The online reaction has been loud:

“This league talks equality, but Caitlin’s being treated like a punching bag.”

“Stewart’s great, no doubt. But this league can’t have two rulebooks.”

“This is why people say the WNBA resents its own stars. Protect everyone or protect no one.”

Some former players have also commented anonymously, saying this isn’t new, and it takes “2-3 seasons before rookies get fair calls.”

But should it really take that long — especially when one of those rookies is bringing in record-breaking attention and revenue?

Final Thoughts: Whistle Watch Has Begun

With social media watching every possession, the WNBA can’t afford to keep getting this wrong. Whether it’s Breanna Stewart, Caitlin Clark, or any player in between, the standard must be the same.

Right now? It’s not.

And fans see it.

It’s time for the league to address this — not just behind closed doors, but openly and clearly. Because if the product on the floor doesn’t feel fair, people will stop believing in what they’re watching.