Fever fans explode at WNBA refs for Aliyah Boston foul call in Game 5 loss

Indiana Fever star Aliyah Boston fouled out in the final seconds of regulation in Game 5 against the Las Vegas Aces.

The Las Vegas Aces are back in the WNBA Finals after escaping the Indiana Fever in overtime in Game 5, 107-98. The Aces exploded for 21 points in the extension to seal the win and set a date with the Phoenix Mercury for the championship.

The Fever made a big rally in the fourth quarter to prevent the Aces from pulling away. They, however, suffered a huge blow when Aliyah Boston was whistled for her sixth foul during a rebound play with only 27.1 seconds left and the game tied at 84-84.

Without Boston in overtime, Indiana had difficulty in the paint on both ends, giving Las Vegas the chance to pull away. Her exit also further handicapped the Fever, who lost Kelsey Mitchell to a leg injury in the third quarter and did not return.

Fans were in utter disbelief that the referees called a personal foul on Boston at such a crucial juncture of the game.

“There is NO WAY that’s a foul on Aliyah Boston. I’m about to lose my Fever mind!! Las Vegas Aces bailed out #Fever #Aces, said @Alex__Monaco.

“It took the refs, KM going down, AB fouling out with joke calls, and overtime for the Aces to beat the Fever #wnba,” added @BaelfireCosplay.

“So we all knew tonight that Aliyah Boston would be in foul trouble immediately, right? I knew it was coming. It’s how the Aces have beaten the Fever all year. Including the regular season,” wrote @Flash_v9.

“Referees should not be deciding close games. The whistle should be studied, the key is to complain, and it switches around next game. Must not watch finals,” posted @angelayoho1.

“The WNBA blows, man. The referees are horrible. Boston never should’ve fouled out,” commented @AaronNesmithFan.

Boston finished with 11 points and 16 rebounds in 32 minutes.

It was the Fever’s best run in the playoffs since reaching the WNBA Finals in 2015.

“We didn’t lose to the Aces. We lost to the refs.”

Those were the words Aliyah Boston dropped after the game — and they echoed the frustration of an entire fanbase. Social media immediately lit up with clips of the call, slow-motion replays, and thousands of furious fans demanding accountability.

“It’s unwinnable when you’re playing against the other team and the paid refs,” one fan posted on X (formerly Twitter), racking up thousands of likes and retweets.

A Growing Pattern?

This isn’t the first time WNBA officiating has come under fire this postseason. But what made this moment so controversial was the timing — a game-deciding call in the final seconds of a tightly contested playoff game. Fans and analysts alike are now calling on the league to review officiating standards and bring more transparency to what many believe is becoming a recurring issue.

The Fallout

While the Las Vegas Aces walk away with the win, questions about the integrity of the game linger in the air. For Indiana, the loss stings — not just because of the scoreboard, but because of the feeling that the game was taken out of their hands.

And for Fever fans? This isn’t over.