In Transition: WNBA Rule Changes For ’23 Campaign Come With NBA Makeover
Thursday, May 4, 2023 at 07:19PM By Barry Janoff
May 4, 2023: MLB this season has implemented a number of significant rule changes, including the pitcher and hitter clock, restrictions on defensive alignments and larger bases.
In anticipation of its 2023 season, the WNBA has also unveiled a number of rule changes that will impact on- and off-court actions.
The WNBA’s 27th regular season is scheduled to begin May 19.
Among the changes will be a Coach’s Challenge, a Transition Take Foul, new Bench Conduct rules to reduce disruptions and distractions during live play and a modification of Resumption of Play Procedures.
The rules are already enacted in the NBA.
In the NBA, the coach’s challenge is successful 74.7% of the time when an out-of-bounds play is being reviewed, 74.7% for goaltending , and personal foul reviews are overturned 43.9% of the time, according to a Sports Illustrated study.
The number of Transition Take Fouls per game defined by about 50% during the past season, according to the NBA, which said there were about 1,500 instances of take fouls in 2021-22.
The NBA enhanced the penalty in 2022-23 to give the offensive team: one free throw, shot by any of its five players on the court at the time plus possession of the ball.
The rules changes were previously recommended by the WNBA’s Competition Committee and have now been approved by the league’s Board of Governors for the 2023 season.
“The Coach’s Challenge will provide head coaches an opportunity to challenge an event that they believe was incorrectly called and introduces a strategic element to the WNBA game,” Bethany Donaphin, WNBA head of league operations, said via the WNBA.
“We will look at the rule on a trial basis and monitor the data around its use throughout the season.”
The Coach’s Challenge rule will allow a team one challenge per game (including overtime), regardless of whether the challenge is successful.
A team can use its challenge to trigger an instant replay review of three specific events: a called foul on their own team, a called out-of-bounds violation, or a called goaltending or basket interference violation.
Replay for a called goaltending or basket interference violation will only be triggered by the on-court officials during the last two minutes of the fourth period or last two minutes of any overtime period replay.
Beginning in 2023 in the WNBA, a heightened penalty will be imposed when a defensive player commits a “transition take foul.”
“The modified rules regarding transition take fouls will lead to improved game flow and increased fast break scoring opportunities while still allowing strategic ‘take fouls’ in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter and last two minutes of all overtime periods,” said Donaphin.
The offensive team will be awarded one free throw, which may be attempted by any player on the floor at the time the foul is committed.
The offensive team will retain possession of the ball and the defensive player who commits the foul will be assessed a common personal foul.
New rules are in place for the 2023 WNBA season to reduce disruptions and distractions during live play.
Specifically, players not in the game may not remain standing at or away from their team’s bench during the game for a prolonged period and, along with coaches, are prohibited from attempting to distract their opponents in an unsportsmanlike manner.
Violations are subject to penalties, such as a technical foul or delay of game.
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