Basketball (NCAA Men) 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).

NCAA medical observers and team medical staff have authority to remove a player from the game for actual or suspected concussion. Removed players are subject to a graduated return-to-play assessment before being cleared for subsequent competition.

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

Rectangular court, 94 feet long × 50 feet wide (28.65 m × 15.24 m); Painted lane (key): 12 feet wide × 19 feet from baseline to free-throw line; Three-point arc: 22 feet 1.75 inches from the center of the basket (NCAA men's distance — expanded from 20'9" in 2019)

Flagrant Foul 1 (unnecessary contact): Contact that is unnecessary but not excessive. Penalty: 2 free throws and possession for the offended team. The play is reviewable by the officials and the Replay Center.; Flagrant Foul 2 (unnecessary and excessive contact): Contact that is both unnecessary ...

Flagrant 1: excessive contact, not directed at the head/neck — 2 free throws + possession; remains in game; Flagrant 2: dangerous or intentional contact, contact to the head/neck/face — 2 free throws + possession + ejection; Replay review used to confirm flagrant fouls

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...

Traveling, double dribble, carrying, goaltending, basket interference; Out of bounds: ball awarded to the opposing team at the point closest to where it went out; 5-second closely-guarded, 10-second backcourt, 3-second lane violations

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.

A player is disqualified ("fouls out") after committing 5 personal fouls; Common personal fouls: blocking, charging, pushing, holding, hand-checking, illegal screen; Shooting fouls: 2 or 3 free throws depending on the foul location; and-one if the basket counts

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.

Men's ball: size 7, circumference 29.5 inches (74.9 cm), weight 22 oz (623 g); NCAA-approved/NFHS-spec leather or composite cover; orange color standard; Basket: 18-inch diameter ring at 10 feet (3.05 m) height

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

Team bench seating along one sideline with the scoring/timing table opposite. Coach's box defined for the head coach with a 28-foot designated coaching area extending from the baseline.

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...

NCAA men's basketball uses a coaches'-challenge framework allowing a head coach to request video review of designated reviewable situations (out-of-bounds calls in the last 2 minutes, basket interf...

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.

The game begins with a jump ball at the center circle. Subsequent jump-ball situations are resolved by the alternating-possession rule — the arrow indicates which team gets possession.

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.

Field goal inside the three-point arc: 2 points; Field goal beyond the three-point arc: 3 points; Free throw: 1 point

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.

A player is disqualified ("fouls out") after committing 5 personal fouls; Common personal fouls: blocking, charging, pushing, holding, hand-checking, illegal screen; Shooting fouls: 2 or 3 free throws depending on the foul location; and-one if the basket counts

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.

NCAA medical observers and team medical staff have authority to remove a player from the game for actual or suspected concussion. Removed players are subject to a graduated return-to-play assessment before being cleared for subsequent competition.

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...

The game begins with a jump ball at the center circle. Subsequent jump-ball situations are resolved by the alternating-possession rule — the arrow indicates which team gets possession.

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, ...

5 players on the court per team at any time; Roster: typically 13-15 players for NCAA D1 men's basketball; Substitutions: unlimited, made at dead-ball stoppages on the scorer's signal

Unsportsmanlike conduct: Taunting, excessive arguing with officials, using profanity, or engaging in actions that disrespect the game; Delay of game: Interfering with the ball after a made basket, failing to immediately pass the ball to the nearest official after a violation; Hanging on the rim: ...

Class A unsporting (taunting, fighting, profanity): 2 free throws + possession to the opposing team; 2 in a game = ejection; Class B (delay-of-game, illegal substitution, hanging on rim without play continuation): 1 free throw + possession; Class C (administrative — coach conduct, scorebook error...