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.”
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