“We just, for whatever reason, weren’t able to get to the free throw line, and that’s a big piece of who we are.” That was Brenda Frese after her Maryland squad’s Sweet 16 loss to Dawn Staley’s South Carolina team. Fast forward to the Elite Eight, and the same controversy is brewing again—this time, it’s Duke and Kara Lawson left questioning the officiating. The whispers about lopsided foul calls have grown into full-blown demands for an NCAA investigation.

Officiating controversies are nothing new in the NCAA Women’s Tournament. In 2024, Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo had to remove her nose ring mid-game—a decision that stunned fans since she’d worn it all season without issue. A year earlier, the 2023 title game between LSU and Iowa saw Caitlin Clark hit with a questionable technical foul, a call that many believe changed the game’s momentum.

When the final whistle blew, South Carolina edged Duke 54-50. But with Duke called for 18 fouls to South Carolina’s 13, yet attempting just 13 free throws compared to South Carolina’s 20, many fans were left questioning the officiating. To them, the numbers simply didn’t add up.

One user on X didn’t hold back, posting, “There needs to be an investigation into these refs at the NCAA. I am watching Dawn Staley comfortable coming on the floor, scolding the ref, and her team is fouling the shit out of people now and no whistles. A girl was ran over from behind—no whistle.”

Even Chronicle Sports tweeted, “A questionable foul called on Duke forward Jadyn Donovan, and Kara Lawson is not happy with the referees.”

The numbers tell a similar story. Despite Duke shooting just 31.7% from the field compared to South Carolina’s 43.2%, they were matching up in other key areas: Duke had 10 turnovers, South Carolina 11. Duke was dominating the boards with 41 rebounds to South Carolina’s 30. Yet, the Blue Devils struggled to get the same calls inside, or so it seemed raising eyebrows across the basketball community.

Fans React to Officiating in Duke vs. South Carolina: Kara Lawson Frustrated, Dawn Staley Draws Criticism

One fan declared, “A questionable foul called on Duke forward Jadyn Donovan, and Kara Lawson is not happy with the referees.”

The controversial foul call on Donovan was a significant moment, sparking debate among fans and analysts. Given the overall foul disparity at the time —Duke committed 18 fouls to South Carolina’s 13—frustration from Lawson and Duke supporters was understandable. Donovan, in particular, was limited by foul trouble, finishing with four personal fouls, affecting her ability to contribute on both ends of the floor.

via Imago

Another fan observed, “Officials have been extremely quick on the draw calling travels. Feagin just got called for one that Dawn Staley was livid about; an audible ‘she did not walk’ could be heard across the court. Think we’re up to six travels now, three on each team.”

Turnovers played a pivotal role in this matchup, with Duke committing 19 turnovers compared to South Carolina’s 16. The traveling violations were part of this issue, as officials maintained a strict stance on footwork. Sania Feagin, who had four turnovers in the game, was one of the players affected by this rigorous officiating. Staley’s animated reaction was indicative of her long-standing passion and advocacy for her players.

Another fan remarked, “What problem does Dawn Staley have with the refs?? They been a lil friendly to South Carolina so far lol.”

Staley has historically been vocal about officiating, but she also maintains a diplomatic approach. During her Sweet 16 run, she stated, “The officials have a hard job. They have a really hard job. I don’t have thick enough skin to do their job. The animation was probably more us having a jokingly conversation rather than a heated conversation. They’re really good at just communicating out there on the floor, and that’s why they’re officiating in the Sweet 16, and probably some of them on their way to the Final Four, because they’re able to handle those types of situations, communicate with the coaches, in a way that really deescalates the situation.”

One fan said, “@MarchMadnessWBB Dawn Staley working the refs and getting the calls as usual.”

Free throws proved to be a difference-maker in the game, with South Carolina attempting 20 free throws compared to Duke’s 13. South Carolina converted 65.0% of its free throws, while Duke managed just 53.8%. This discrepancy, along with the foul disparity, fueled perceptions that officiating tilted in favor of Staley’s team.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if referees subconsciously favored Staley, given her past statements smoothing over officiating controversies. In October, she had posted about WNBA Finals officiating, saying, “I hope you all know I did not post this to denigrate the officials… just wanted to say they are working just as hard as the players. It was an appreciation post for hard-working peeps in our game! Let’s just continue to love on our beautiful game!”

Another fan noted, “Refs bailing South Carolina out with fouls. Got to keep that Dawn Staley media aspect alive. Duke gets the shit end of the stick.”

Looking at the overall stats, Duke actually held a rebounding advantage (41-30), including a massive edge in offensive rebounds (19-6). However, South Carolina compensated with better shooting efficiency, hitting 43.2% from the field compared to Duke’s 31.7%. This combination of factors, along with the free-throw disparity and officiating concerns, left many Duke fans feeling shortchanged.

As South Carolina advances to its fifth straight Final Four on April 4, 2025, this debate threatens to overshadow their run. With women’s basketball booming—viewership hit record highs this March—the NCAA faces pressure to ensure fairness.

While officiating remains a controversial topic, the numbers provide a broader context for the game’s flow and the fans’ frustrations.