1. The Incident and Immediate Reaction
During the game between the Golden State Valkyries and Las Vegas Aces on August 3, 2025, Janelle Salaün delivered a shoulder bump to Jewell Loyd with just over three seconds left in the second quarter. The bump occurred off the ball and was not part of the play’s normal flow. Referees deemed the contact both unnecessary and excessive, classifying it as a Flagrant 2—a decision that triggered immediate ejection from the game .
Fans were quick to react on social platforms. Some called the punishment disproportionate, noting similar off-the-ball contact in other games that drew much lighter rulings:
> “Absolutely no consistency from the Refs in the W!!!”
“Funny how Salaun gets ejected for this but the times it’s been done on Caitlin Clark it’s okay” .
2. Understanding WNBA’s Foul Structure
To grasp why Salaün’s foul was punished so severely, it’s key to understand WNBA foul definitions:
Common (personal) foul: ordinary infractions, not assessed as flagrants.
Flagrant 1 (F1): contact deemed unnecessary by the referee—no ejection, but results in two free throws and possession awarded to the fouled team .
Flagrant 2 (F2): contact judged both unnecessary and excessive—the player is automatically ejected .
The critical distinction between F1 and F2 is the severity—F2 involves a higher level of force or intent, carrying a clear risk of injury.
3. Why Salaün’s Foul Was Treated as F2
A. Timing and Context
The foul occurred with only seconds left in the half, not during active play on the ball, which amplifies its perceived intent.
Officials saw the shoulder bump as retaliatory and deliberate—i.e., beyond what’s acceptable even in physical play.
B. WNBA Rules and Interpretation
According to the rulebook:
> “If contact is interpreted to be unnecessary and excessive … a flagrant foul‑penalty 2 will be assessed” .
Referees judged Salaün’s action to fall squarely into that category. That’s why she was ejected automatically after a single F2.
4. Why Similar or “Harder” Fouls in Other Games Didn’t Get F2
A. Inconsistency and Subjectivity of Calls
As many fans and analysts point out, refereeing in the WNBA lacks strict, consistent standards—what one official calls F2, another may downgrade to F1 or even a no-call. One prominent Reddit comment put it bluntly:
> “a flagrant foul‑penalty 1 will be assessed … a flagrant 2 only if the contact is unnecessary and excessive. It’s a judgment call.”
Different referees interpret severity and intent differently. There is no objective measure, so similar fouls can be judged differently depending on who watched and the game context.
B. Star Player Bias and Game Narrative
In recent seasons, Caitlin Clark has been the subject of nearly 17% of all flagrant fouls (over a small sample size)—far more than any other player—prompting accusations of both over-protection and under-protection depending on the game .
Some fans argue that Clarke’s fouls were under-called, while others suggest there’s bias in how referees apply the rules to her. The perception of a star’s prominence influences how aggressively some fouls are penalized.
C. Benchmarks from NBA or Other Leagues
Per analysts reviewing NBA precedent, flagrant‑2 is typically reserved for elbows to the head, especially if it risks serious injury:
> “the Thad Young flagrant is a fucking joke”—even within the list of actual NBA F2s .
Comparing WNBA matters to NBA standards, some fans say the bar for F2 in the WNBA is unusually high—injury potential or overt violence are almost required.
5. Was Salaün’s Foul an Outlier? What Made It Stick?
Several factors likely combined to elevate this foul:
No contact with the ball: non‑ball contact is more likely to be seen as malicious or intentional.
Late in first half: when the ball isn’t in play, a bump reads more as sabotage than basketball.
Loyd’s status: Loyd scored 13 by halftime, so officials may have been alert to protect her from extra harm.
Game temperature: when tensions are high or history exists between teams, refs may err on the side of control via harsher calls.
6. What the Rulebook Says—and Why That Matters
Let’s quote the official rule definitions:
F1: “contact … interpreted to be unnecessary”
F2: “interpreted to be unnecessary and excessive”
Reddit commentary highlights how the overlap in terminology makes things fuzzy:
> “any unnecessary contact is excessive by definition … they’re defining ‘unnecessary’… could’ve said ‘severely excessive’ contact instead” .
In practice, refs look for both a non-basketball context and force. Salaün’s hit apparently met both criteria.
7. Why Other “Harder” Fouls Didn’t Result in F2
A. Did Other Players Hit Earlier, But Not Ejected?
Yes—fans have noted cases like Diamond DeShields hitting Caitlin Clark, or Chennedy Carter body-checking Clark, that seemed flagrant‑2 worthy—but were called F1 or upgraded later to F1 only .
Many observers felt those plays involved similarly malicious or reckless contact, but they were not ruled F2—perhaps due to:
The ball being in play
No frame-by-frame review
Less force, or perception of lesser intent
The player’s reputation (e.g. Clark getting fouls called differently)
B. Refs’ Reluctance to Eject
Reddit users summed up a cynical view: “You’d usually have to commit a flagrant 2 to get called a flagrant 1 … the bar for a flagrant 2 seems extremely high” .
In short: ejections are rare, so officials may downplay borderline cases.
8. Summary Table
Factor Why Salaün’s F2 stood out Why others didn’t reach F2
Timing Off-ball, late in half—seen as intentional On-ball or earlier in play context
Severity Strong shoulder bump—interpreted as excessive force Less forceful or incidental contact
Intent Felt retaliatory or malicious Considered part of play, not targeting without reason
Review/spotting Visible, potentially replay-reviewed Not flagged in real time or reviewed afterwards
Referee discretion Judgment deemed it F2-worthy Variation in refereeing standards leads to F1 or no call
Player profiles Some believe Loyd’s star warranted protection Others like Clark viewed with inconsistency from refs
9. Key Takeaways
Flagrant 2 is only assessed when a foul is judged both unnecessary and excessive. It carries automatic ejection and suspension.
Salaün’s foul check-marked both boxes in the eyes of the officiating crew.
Many other hard fouls have similar characteristics but weren’t judged as harshly—because flagrant calls involve subjective interpretation.
Fans complain about inconsistency and possible bias: why some players get booked for F2 while nearly identical fouls against others do not.
The rule definitions themselves are vague and open to interpretation, making referees’ judgement the deciding factor.
10. Closing Thoughts
While the WNBA rules are clear in letter, their application varies game to game. Salaün’s ejection came down to a moment that flew off the script of typical physical basketball: off‑ball contact with apparent intent, outside the flow, interpreted as “excessive.” Had the bump been softer, part of a transition play, or during a live-ball scenario, it might have been downgraded.
In contrast, fouls in other games—albeit more forceful or harmful—may not have triggered F2 because referees judged context, intent, player histories, and timing differently. That subjectivity fuels the debate over consistency and fairness in how WNBA flagrants are officiated.
Leave a Reply