WVU Women’s Basketball Denied Sweet 16 Spot by Controversial Officiating

It was near the start of the fourth quarter when West Virginia’s women’s basketball team faced off against North Carolina for a chance to reach the Sweet 16 that I noticed the referees in Chapel Hill were not planning on allowing the Mountaineers to progress to the Sweet 16.
I had a suspicion during the game due to several dubious decisions, naturally. The officiating never appeared impartial. Whenever the No. 6-seed Mountaineers got near the No. 3-seed Tar Heels or took the lead — any time it appeared the momentum was shifting towards WVU, in fact — the referees discovered several fouls, infractions, or violations to attribute to the Mountaineers. The team’s top players faced foul issues frequently and early on.
However, it was during the initial moments of the last quarter, when the referees whistled three straight fouls on the Mountaineers in one defensive play — one of which put starter Kylee Blacksten on the bench — that I understood the true score in Chapel Hill.
I was right in my belief — UNC left their home court on Monday night with a 58-47 victory against WVU, moving on to the Sweet 16. The Tar Heels might genuinely be the superior team — they indeed had a higher seed in the tournament — yet the officials denied the Mountaineers a fair chance from the very first whistle.
UNC players displayed physicality against WVU throughout the entire evening — you could hardly go one or two possessions without witnessing a Mountaineer player hitting the floor, and several WVU shots were altered during key moments of the game. In the meantime, the most sensitive fouls were called on almost every possession against WVU.
At one moment, a Tar Heel guard charged into the lane totally out of control, tripped over her own feet while trying to navigate between defenders, and a foul was assessed on the Mountaineers.
You’d expect that during March Madness, the officials would put in a bit more effort—it’s a crucial time of the year. However, repeatedly, dubious decisions transformed a tight matchup into a relentless challenge for the Mountaineers to stay competitive with UNC.
It probably leaves WVU fans feeling disappointed after their men’s basketball team was overlooked for an NCAA Tournament spot in favor of North Carolina, despite most bracketologists forecasting the contrary, leading to criticism directed at UNC AD Bubba Cunningham, the chair of the Selection Committee. He also received bonuses for participating in UNC tournaments.
Witnessing the Mountaineers exit the women’s tournament in Chapel Hill due to inadequate officiating enhances an already negative impression of UNC. Numerous factors could account for the reason behind this injustice. Those who are more suspicious might try to link the officials at a UNC home game with Cunningham, who probably also earns bonuses for women — although I’m confident the NCAA has a bigger influence in choosing tournament officials than the university.
Perhaps it was ESPN’s wish to capture the enticing Duke-UNC rivalry in the Sweet 16 — a legendary basketball rivalry between two iconic brands is very attractive. Although neither institution reaches the stature of UConn or Tennessee in women’s basketball, both rank within the Top 30 for most wins among Division 1 programs, and the basketball culture is deeply rooted in the area where both schools are situated.
It could have simply been true incompetence, a subpar performance by a team having an off night or unprepared for the task.
Ultimately, the outcome remained unchanged, and we should speak frankly about it: West Virginia women’s basketball was denied a fair opportunity for a Sweet 16 appearance, and supporters have grounds to be frustrated.

A Closer Look at the Game’s Key Moments
The Mountaineers started off strong, managing to keep the game within reach. The team’s defense was focused and effective, with senior guard Madisen Smith stepping up to challenge the Tar Heels’ offense. Smith was relentless on both ends of the floor, providing the Mountaineers with much-needed energy, but she too fell victim to the aggressive officiating. In the first half alone, she had been called for two questionable fouls, one on a drive where it seemed she had positioned herself without making any contact. It was a tough pill to swallow, especially for a player who had been so pivotal to the team’s success all season.

WVU’s ability to maintain the game’s pace was also hindered by what seemed like a never-ending parade of foul calls. Not only did this impact the Mountaineers’ defensive strategy, but it also forced them to play with a significantly weakened lineup. When Blacksten was forced to sit with foul trouble early in the fourth quarter, UNC seized the opportunity to gain control. The Tar Heels capitalized on their advantage, stretching their lead in the final minutes.

Despite this setback, WVU’s resilience never wavered. The team continued to press, even with the odds stacked against them, trying to find ways to break through the defensive wall that UNC had set up. Still, as the clock wound down, it became clear that the Mountaineers’ momentum had been effectively stifled by the repeated and, at times, questionable calls from the officials.

The Impact of Officiating in High-Stakes Games
The question that looms large is how much of an impact officiating can have on the outcome of a game in such high-stakes situations. March Madness is known for its unpredictability, and the intensity of the games often leads to passionate debates about officiating. While every fan has their own interpretation of how a game should be called, the general expectation is that officials will make calls with consistency and fairness. In this case, however, the inconsistencies in the way fouls were called seemed to favor UNC at key moments, leaving many fans of the Mountaineers questioning the integrity of the game.

WVU fans have every right to feel aggrieved. Their team fought hard and had the skill to compete at the highest level, but the officiating seemed to prevent them from showing their true potential. It is a frustrating reality for a team that had earned its spot in the tournament and had been poised for an upset.

As the Mountaineers return to Morgantown, they will undoubtedly reflect on the season with mixed emotions. They had a strong campaign, but this bitter exit will leave a sour taste for both the players and their loyal supporters. The decision to have this game officiated in such a way could have long-term repercussions, as it adds fuel to the fire for those questioning the fairness of the tournament selection process. For WVU, the road to redemption will be difficult, but the lessons learned from this game will only make them stronger in the years to come.

While the Mountaineers may not have made it to the Sweet 16 this year, their journey isn’t over. Their fans know that they have a team capable of achieving great things, and they will be back. But the unfair officiating in Chapel Hill will surely be remembered as a painful chapter in their tournament run.