Women's National Basketball Association - Rules and Regulations

Rules and Regulations

Rules are governed by standard basketball rules as defined by the NBA, with a few notable exceptions:

• The three-point line is 20 feet 6.25 inches (6.25 m) from the middle of the basket. This is the same distance used under old FIBA rules; however, FIBA has increased its three-point distance to 22 feet 2 inches (6.75 m) since October 1, 2012 (for domestic competitions).
• The regulation WNBA ball is a minimum 28.5 inches (72.4 cm) in circumference, 1 inch (2.54 cm) smaller than the NBA ball. As of 2004, this size is used for all senior-level women's competitions worldwide.
• Quarters are 10 minutes in duration instead of 12.
• There is no defensive 3-second rule.

Games are divided into four 10-minute quarters as opposed to the league's original two 20-minute halves of play, similar with FIBA rules (many WNBA players play in European or Australian leagues, which all use the FIBA rule set).

A recent trend with new WNBA rules has been to match them with a similar NBA rule. Beginning with the 2006 WNBA season:

• The winner of the opening jump ball shall begin the 4th quarter with the ball out of bounds. The loser shall begin with the ball out of bounds in the second and third quarter. Previously under the two-half format, both periods started with jump balls, presumably to eliminate the possibility of a team purposely losing the opening tip in order to gain the opening possession of the second half. This is not a problem under the four-quarters because the winner of the opening tip gets the opening possession of the final period.
• The shot clock was decreased from 30 to 24 seconds. The rule changes signaled a move away from rules more similar to those of college basketball and toward those that provide a more NBA-like game. FIBA also uses a 24-second clock.

The 2007 WNBA season brought changes that included:

• The amount of time that a team must move the ball across the half-court line went from 10 to 8 seconds.
• A referee can grant time-outs to either a player or the coach.
• Two free throws and possession of the ball for clear-path-to-the-basket foul. Previously only one free throw was awarded as well as possession.

In 2012, the WNBA added the block/charge arc under the basket.