The WNBA has announced the officiating crew for Game 4 of the Semifinals between the Indiana Fever and Las Vegas Aces (stats via refmetrics.com):
Crew Chief: Isaac Barnett
Referee: Randy Richardson
Barnett’s First Season: 2017; Home Wins: 58.4%; Last Season: 2025; Home Fouls: 17.2%; Total Games: 209; Away Fouls: 18.2%; Crew Chief: 26; Foul Diff: 1.0
Richardson’s First Season: 2017; Home Wins: 58.4%; Last Season: 2025; Home Fouls: 17.2%; Total Games: 209; Away Fouls: 18.2%; Crew Chief: 26; Foul Diff: 1.0
Umpire: Jenna Reneau
Renau’s First Season: 2021-22; Home Wins: 54.8%; Last Season: 2024-25; Home Fouls: 19.8%; Total Games: 42; Away Fouls: 21.1%; Crew Chief: 0; Foul Diff: 1.3
Alternate: Jeff Wooten
Wooten’s First Season: 2013; Home Wins: 58.6%; Last Season: 2025; Home Fouls: 18.0%; Total Games: 292; Away Fouls: 18.5%; Crew Chief: 128; Foul Diff: 0.5
How Does the WNBA Select Officials for the Playoffs?
Playoff officials are selected by the WNBA Referee Operations management team based on three specific criteria throughout the season: graded rankings (also done by the Operations team), play-calling accuracy, and team feedback. They are evaluated with each postseason game, which decides their immediate future.
Why Are Officials Important in the Fever vs Aces Semifinals?
In a close game between top teams, the referees must maintain control of the situation. Each play has compounded importance in the playoffs with cut-to-cut games. The officials drive how the game goes. For example, if the officials allow excessive physicality like in Game 2, players will take advantage of that. The Fever are massively undersized compared to the Aces, which will give them a disadvantage. Each call is important, but the referees also deal with any heated situations on the court. If dealt with correctly, it could be prevented from escalating into something worse.
Where and How to Watch Fever vs Aces Semifinals Game 4
Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Streaming: ESPN TV or WNBA League Pass
TV: ABC
At this stage of the postseason, every possession is magnified, and so is every whistle. Beyond the X’s and O’s, the Fever and Aces will need to navigate not just each other’s schemes, but also the way this game is managed from the floor. The crew’s ability to strike the right balance could be the difference between a series-extending thriller and a season-ending exit. One thing is certain: when the ball tips in Game 4, the spotlight won’t just be on the players.