Basketball (FIBA) vs Basketball — Same Game, Different Rules

The WNBA maintains a comprehensive concussion management program developed in collaboration with the Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA).

FIBA has implemented comprehensive concussion management procedures for all Level 1 and Level 2 competitions: Recognition: Any player suspected of sustaining a concussion must be immediately removed from the game for evaluation; Assessment: The FIBA Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) is used...

Two-point field goal (2 points): A basket made from inside the three-point arc. This includes layups, dunks, hook shots, floaters, and mid-range jump shots.; Three-point field goal (3 points): A basket made from beyond the three-point arc. The shooter's feet must be completely behind (not touchin...

Two-point field goal: A shot made from inside the three-point line scores 2 points; Three-point field goal: A shot made from behind the 6.75m (22.15ft) three-point arc scores 3 points. The shooter's feet must be entirely behind the line at the point of release. If a foot is on the line, it counts...

Free throw (1 point each): Uncontested shots taken from the free throw line, awarded after certain fouls; The shooter must release the ball within the time prescribed by the rule book after receiving it from the official; Other players line up in designated lane spaces during free throw attempts:...

Value: 1 point each; Awarded for: Personal fouls on a shooter (2 free throws for a two-point attempt, 3 for a three-point attempt), unsportsmanlike fouls (2 free throws + possession), disqualifying fouls, technical fouls (1 free throw in FIBA, 2 in NBA); Team foul bonus: Starting from the 5th tea...

A WNBA game consists of four 10-minute quarters, for a total of 40 minutes of regulation play. This is a key structural difference from the NBA's 12-minute quarters and aligns the WNBA more closely with FIBA international rules timing.

A FIBA game consists of 4 × 10-minute quarters (40 minutes total), compared to the NBA's 4 × 12-minute quarters (48 minutes): Quarters: 4 periods of 10 minutes each; Half-time interval: 15 minutes (can be extended to 20 minutes for major events); Between quarters: 2-minute interval between the fi...

Each WNBA game is officiated by a crew of three referees: Crew Chief: The senior official with final authority on rule interpretations and disputes; administers the game and has sole authority to declare a forfeit.; Referee: The second official, sharing floor responsibilities with the crew chief ...

FIBA uses 2 referees and 1 commissioner for most competitions (NBA uses 3 referees): Referee (crew chief): Has final decision authority on all matters not specifically covered by the rules; Umpire: The second on-court official, sharing floor coverage with the referee; Commissioner (if appointed):...

Defensive goaltending: A defender may not touch the ball while it is on its downward arc toward the basket, above the rim level, or after it has touched the backboard during a shot attempt. If a defensive goaltending violation occurs, the basket counts automatically.; Offensive goaltending / bask...

This is a major rule difference from the NBA: FIBA rule: Once the ball touches the rim, any player may touch it — even while it is still on or above the cylinder of the basket. Players may tip the ball off the rim or swat it away.; NBA rule: No player may touch the ball while it is on the rim, wi...

Out of bounds: The ball is out of bounds when it touches the floor, a player, or any object on or outside the boundary line. Possession is awarded to the opposing team of the player who last touched the ball.; Backcourt violation (over and back): Once the ball is established in the frontcourt, th...

3-second violation: An offensive player may not remain in the restricted area (paint) for more than 3 consecutive seconds — same as NBA; 5-second violation: On throw-ins, a player must release the ball within 5 seconds. A closely guarded player holding the ball must pass, shoot, or dribble within...

If the score is tied at the end of the fourth quarter, a 5-minute overtime period is played; Overtime begins with a jump ball at center court; Additional overtime periods are played until one team has a higher score at the end of a period — WNBA games cannot end in a tie

If the score is tied at the end of the fourth quarter, a 5-minute overtime period is played — same as NBA; Overtime starts with a jump ball at center court; Each team receives 1 timeout per overtime period

A personal foul is illegal physical contact by a player against an opponent. Personal fouls include holding, pushing, charging, blocking, hand-checking, and illegal screens.

Limit: 5 personal fouls per player (NBA allows 6); Types: Contact fouls (pushing, holding, charging, blocking, hand-checking), shooting fouls, offensive fouls, loose ball fouls; Penalty: The fouled team receives a throw-in, unless the foul was on a shooter (free throws) or the team is in the bonu...

Jerseys: Numbered front and back; numbers may use single digits (0–5) or pairs of digits in any combination, consistent with NBA convention; Shorts: Team-issued, with consistent color and trim across the roster; Footwear: Basketball shoes meeting league safety standards

Jersey numbers: 0–99 permitted (expanded from the traditional 4–15 range in 2014); Jersey: Must be tucked in. Numbers on front (minimum 100mm/4in tall) and back (minimum 200mm/8in tall); Shorts: Same dominant color as the jersey. Must end above the knee or at the knee.

The WNBA uses a women's official-size basketball (Size 6), which is smaller and lighter than the men's Size 7 ball used by the NBA.

FIBA approves specific balls for official competition. The Molten BG5000 is the official game ball for major FIBA competitions.

The WNBA plays on a regulation NBA-size court, since league franchises share arenas with NBA teams and other tenants.

The FIBA court is smaller than the NBA court: Length: 28 meters (91.86 feet) — NBA is 28.65m (94 feet); Width: 15 meters (49.21 feet) — NBA is 15.24m (50 feet); Surface: Hardwood or synthetic surface with uniform bounce characteristics

Each WNBA game is officiated by a crew of three referees: Roster size: Each WNBA team's regular-season roster is capped by the collective bargaining agreement; teams typically dress 12 active players for each game.; Players on the court: 5 players per team are on the court simultaneously, organiz...

FIBA teams have a smaller roster than NBA teams: Roster: Maximum 12 players eligible per game (NBA allows 13 active + 2 inactive); On court: 5 players per team at all times; Captain: Each team must designate a captain on the scoresheet. The captain is the only player who may address officials abo...

A WNBA game consists of four 10-minute quarters, for a total of 40 minutes of regulation play. This is a key structural difference from the NBA's 12-minute quarters and aligns the WNBA more closely with FIBA international rules timing.

A FIBA game consists of 4 × 10-minute quarters (40 minutes total), compared to the NBA's 4 × 12-minute quarters (48 minutes): Quarters: 4 periods of 10 minutes each; Half-time interval: 15 minutes (can be extended to 20 minutes for major events); Between quarters: 2-minute interval between the fi...

The top finishing teams from the regular season qualify for the WNBA Playoffs, an elimination tournament conducted in successive rounds of best-of series. The tournament culminates in the WNBA Finals, which determines the league champion.

This is a major rule difference from the NBA: Two-point field goal: A shot made from inside the three-point line scores 2 points; Three-point field goal: A shot made from behind the 6.75m (22.15ft) three-point arc scores 3 points. The shooter's feet must be entirely behind the line at the point o...

A personal foul is illegal physical contact by a player against an opponent. Personal fouls include holding, pushing, charging, blocking, hand-checking, and illegal screens.

FIBA's traveling rules are stricter than the NBA's: Gather step: FIBA recognizes a gather step (step "zero") since 2017, allowing a player receiving the ball while moving to take two additional steps. However, the interpretation is generally stricter than the NBA's, where the gather step is more ...

Each team is entitled to one Coach's Challenge per game. A coach may challenge a personal foul called on her team, a goaltending or basket interference call, or an out-of-bounds call.

FIBA has implemented comprehensive concussion management procedures for all Level 1 and Level 2 competitions: Recognition: Any player suspected of sustaining a concussion must be immediately removed from the game for evaluation; Assessment: The FIBA Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) is used...

The offensive team must attempt a shot that hits the rim within 24 seconds of gaining possession of the ball.

The offensive team must attempt a shot that hits the rim within 24 seconds — same as the NBA. However, reset rules differ: Full reset (24 seconds): After a change of possession, after the ball goes out of bounds off the defensive team in the backcourt; Reset to 14 seconds: After an offensive rebo...

Jump ball: Each game begins with a jump ball at center court. Two opposing players stand inside the center circle and the referee tosses the ball upward between them; each jumper may tap the ball after it reaches its highest point.; Held-ball situations: Held balls and simultaneous possessions du...

Jump ball: Only used to start the game (first quarter) and each overtime period; Alternating possession: All subsequent held ball and jump ball situations are resolved using the alternating possession arrow. The team that did not gain possession from the opening tip gets the next alternating poss...

Substitutions may be made during any dead-ball situation (after a made basket, during a timeout, after a foul, after a violation, or at the start of a period); A substitute must report to the scorer's table and wait to be beckoned onto the court by an official; There is no limit to the number of ...

Substitutions may be made during any dead ball situation when the game clock is stopped; The substitute must report to the scorer's table and wait to be beckoned onto the court by an official; A substitution opportunity begins when the ball becomes dead, the game clock is stopped, and the officia...

Roster size: Each WNBA team's regular-season roster is capped by the collective bargaining agreement; teams typically dress 12 active players for each game.; Players on the court: 5 players per team are on the court simultaneously, organized loosely into the traditional 5 positions (point guard, ...

FIBA teams have a smaller roster than NBA teams: Roster: Maximum 12 players eligible per game (NBA allows 13 active + 2 inactive); On court: 5 players per team at all times; Captain: Each team must designate a captain on the scoresheet. The captain is the only player who may address officials abo...

The WNBA uses a women's official-size basketball (Size 6), which is smaller and lighter than the men's Size 7 ball used by the NBA.

FIBA approves specific balls for official competition. The Molten BG5000 is the official game ball for major FIBA competitions.

Each team is granted a fixed number of timeouts per game, allocated by half and quarter under league rules; Timeout duration and television-mandated breaks are governed by the league's broadcast protocol; Limits apply on how many timeouts a team may carry into the final stretch of the fourth quarter

FIBA timeout rules are much more restrictive than the NBA: First half: 2 timeouts per team; Second half: 3 timeouts per team (maximum 2 in the last 2 minutes); Overtime: 1 timeout per team per overtime period