"Colorism is a FACTOR": A'ja Wilson's friend claims "white adjacent" teams act like victims while being aggressors

"Colorism is a FACTOR": A
"Colorism is a FACTOR": A'ja Wilson's friend claims "white adjacent" teams act like victims while being aggressors (Source: Imagn)

Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson’s friend, Michael McManus, shared his thoughts on the physicality of the WNBA playoffs on Friday. McManus claimed that “white adjacent” teams often portray themselves as "victims" during games while actually playing the role of "aggressors." The influencer also suggested that "colorism" plays a role in the referees' decision-making.

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"I don’t like Phoenix at all but this the type of officiating that bothers me," he wrote on X. "The more white adjacent team gets treated like victims even when they are the aggressor. And yes. Colorism is a FACTOR."
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McManus posted the tweet after Game 3 of the WNBA semifinals between the Phoenix Mercury and the Minnesota Lynx. He claimed that officiating calls were made based on the skin tone of the players.

"If Kah was two shades of Fenty Beauty lighter, no call," he added.
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While McManus felt the Lynx benefited from lenient officiating, the Mercury didn’t appear too concerned with the calls, securing an 84-76 victory to take a 2-1 series lead.

A’ja Wilson’s friend backs statement criticizing Lynx coach over officiating complaints

The WNBA playoffs have been especially physical this year, with referees reluctant to call many contact fouls. That was evident in Friday’s matchup between the Phoenix Mercury and Minnesota Lynx, where the game featured several stretches of intense physical play.

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In her post-game interview, Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve lashed out at officials for missing calls, suggesting Napheesa Collier may have sustained a “fracture” during an on-court clash. However, a fan pushed back, accusing the coach of double standards in her officiating complaints.

"When coaches complain about refs, how come they never highlight when it benefits them?" he questioned.

A'ja Wilson's friend, Michael McManus, seemed to agree with this statement and showed his support by retweeting the post on his profile.

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Edited by Neha
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