Basketball (NCAA Women) vs Basketball — Same Game, Different Rules

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 head/neck — 2 FT + possession; remains in game; Flagrant 2: dangerous or intentional contact, head/neck contact — 2 FT + possession + ejection; Replay review confirms 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; 5-second closely-guarded, 10-second backcourt, 3-second lane

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.

5 personal fouls = foul out. Common personal fouls: blocking, charging, pushing, holding, hand-checking, illegal screen.

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.

Same uniform standards as the men's variant: team uniform with school logo and unique numbers, athletic shoes for indoor surface. Mouthguards recommended; jewelry prohibited except per religious-exemption framework.

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

Bench, scorer's table, and 28-foot coach's box layout match the men's specification.

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...

Unlimited substitutions at dead-ball stoppages on the scorer's signal; substituted players may re-enter.

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.

Four 10-minute quarters (adopted 2015-16; distinguishes NCAA W's from NCAA M's halves); 2-minute breaks between Q1/Q2 and Q3/Q4; 15-minute halftime; 5-minute overtime periods until a winner is determined

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.

2-point field goal inside the arc; 3-point field goal beyond the 22'1.75" arc; 1-point free throw; Most points wins; tied at end of regulation = 5-min OT periods until winner

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.

5 personal fouls = foul out. Common personal fouls: blocking, charging, pushing, holding, hand-checking, illegal screen.

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.

Concussion protocol identical to NCAA men's: medical observers and team medical staff have authority to remove a player; graduated return-to-play assessment required. Flagrant-2 ejection framework protects against head/neck contact.

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 ...

Unlimited substitutions at dead-ball stoppages on the scorer's signal; substituted players may re-enter.

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 FT + possession; 2 = ejection; Class B (delay-of-game, illegal substitution): 1 FT + possession; Class C (administrative): 1 or 2 FT