The WNBA is adding a coach’s challenge along with some other modified rule changes this season, the league announced Wednesday.
Coaches will be allowed only one challenge per game, even if the challenge is successful or the game goes into overtime. A coach can call for an instant-replay review in these circumstances: a foul called on their team, a called out-of-bounds violation, or a called goaltending or basket interference violation.
A coach’s challenge is now the only way to trigger a replay review of an out-of-bounds violation. Previously, referees could trigger reviews for out-of-bounds calls in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter or any overtime period. Officials can still ask for reviews during those time periods on goaltending or basket interference violations.
In order to initiate a challenge, a coach must call a full timeout. If a team challenges a call that, in fact, may not be reviewed, the team is charged a timeout but retains its challenge. There must be clear and conclusive visual evidence to overturn any call.
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