Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Diana Taurasi should be suspended for her dirty hit on Cheyenne Parker-Tyus

It’s taking the WNBA too long to suspend Diana Taurasi for her dangerous late-game hit on Cheyenne Parker-Tyus or, at the very least, fine her. A WNBA spokesperson didn’t respond to an immediate request for comment when asked if the league was looking into the matter.

In the last 35 seconds of a tight match, the hosting Phoenix Mercury led 86-83. Then Parker-Tyus pivoted in the lane and scored at close range against Sophie Cunningham while illegally using her left arm. If the refs were sharp, they would have flagged an offensive foul in real-time. But Taurasi subsequently jumped into Parker-Tyus’ body, leading with her arm as the ball trickled through the net. It was an obvious intent to injure, and worse yet, at a critical part of the game.

The refs initiated a review and, incomprehensibly, ruled that there was no foul. I’m convinced this crew would have checked out the Zapruder film and told JFK to take some ibuprofen.

Parker-Tyus watched the rest of the game from the bench after supplying 12 points on 50% shooting in the fourth quarter.

And the Mercury won 88-85.

Atlanta Dream coach Tanisha Wright, Allisha Gray and Crystal Dangerfield were made available to the press and neither was asked about the incident.

I suspect at least two factors are causing the WNBA to be slow on the draw. One, they don’t want to publicly embarrass the refs with a contradicting report. Two, Parker-Tyus wasn’t seriously hurt despite getting grounded.

Imagine if Parker-Tyus threw her massive body into Taurasi’s smaller frame instead. The latter would have left on a stretcher.

Taurasi should get sent home for Tuesday’s match versus the Las Vegas Aces and Thursday’s against the Washington Mystics.

The last WNBA press release was on May 16th, announcing Mortgage Matchup as the official WNBA and NBA mortgage partner.