Coaching challenges are here to stay in the WNBA.
Teams will be awarded a second coach’s challenge if their first is successful, the league said Thursday, while announcing multiple rule changes for the 2024 season.
The change comes after the WNBA instituted a challenge system last season for the first time. In 2023, the WNBA, on a trial basis, allowed one challenge per game, regardless of whether it is successful, with coaches able to trigger an instant review of a foul called on their own team, a called out-of-bounds violation or a called goaltending or basket interference violation.
Throughout the season, however, a number of coaches voiced desires to adapt the rule, with multiple hoping to have a second challenge if their first review requests were successful. “I would like to see if you win it, you keep it for at least one more (challenge),” Washington Mystics coach Eric Thibault told The Athletic last season.
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Twirl that finger: Assessing the new WNBA coach’s challenge rule
The NBA similarly instituted a second coach’s challenge ahead of the 2023-24 season if the first video-replay review request was successful. The WNBA said it made the change “to improve the flow of the game and provide increased flexibility to coaches.”
New this season, the WNBA is also introducing a “reset timeout” in late-game situations. The timeout will allow teams to advance the ball and make substitutions, but notably not huddle. Each team is entitled to one reset in the final two minutes of the fourth period and one in the final two minutes of any overtime period.
A twirling index finger is the motion for challenges. To request a reset, a head coach or player must call a timeout then cross their arms in an “X” and voice “reset” to the official. Some of the key features of the timeout are that if either team huddles, a delay of game will be issued to that team and the shot clock will remain as it was when play was stopped for the reset timeout.
It is part of a broader change in the timeout format around the league. Previously, each team was allotted four full timeouts and two 20-second timeouts. This season, each team will be allotted five timeouts in regulation and an additional reset timeout. Twenty-second timeouts have been eliminated and each team will be limited to two timeouts after whatever comes later between the three-minute mark of the fourth period or the conclusion of the second mandatory timeout of the fourth quarter.
WNBA preseason action begins on Friday as the Indiana Fever take on the Dallas Wings and Chicago Sky play the Minnesota Lynx. The regular season begins on May 14.
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(Photo: Scott Taetsch / Getty Images)
