WNBA Rules: A Comprehensive Guide

Basics of the Game

The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) is a professional basketball league featuring 12 teams in the United States.

WNBA games are played on a standard basketball court with the same rules as the NBA, with a few minor exceptions.

Key Differences from the NBA

• The WNBA uses a slightly smaller basketball than the NBA.
• The shot clock is 24 seconds instead of 24 seconds.
• The WNBA has a more physical style of play.

Court Dimensions and Equipment

The WNBA court is 94 feet long and 50 feet wide, with a 10-foot hoop.

The basketball used in the WNBA is a size 6, which is smaller than the size 7 ball used in the NBA.

Scoring

Points are scored by shooting the ball through the basket.

• Field goals: 2 points
• Three-pointers: 3 points
• Free throws: 1 point

Gameplay

Periods and Timeouts

WNBA games consist of four 10-minute quarters.

Each team can call two 20-second timeouts and six 10-second timeouts per game.

Fouls

Fouls are called when a player makes illegal contact with an opponent.

• Personal fouls: The most common type of foul, called when a player makes contact with an opponent's body.
• Charging fouls: Called when an offensive player runs into a stationary defensive player.
• Blocking fouls: Called when a defensive player prevents an offensive player from moving forward.

Penalties for Fouls

The penalty for a foul depends on the type of foul that was called.

• Personal fouls: The player who committed the foul is charged with a foul and the opposing team is awarded one free throw.
• Charging fouls: The player who committed the foul is charged with a foul and the opposing team is awarded the ball.
• Blocking fouls: The player who committed the foul is charged with a foul and the opposing team is awarded the ball.