The WNBA announced key rule changes ahead of the 2023 season. Among the changes is a coach’s challenge, which was recommended by the WNBA’s competition committee and approved by the league’s Board of Governors for the 2023 season.
“The coach’s challenge will provide head coaches an opportunity to challenge an event they believe was incorrectly called and introduces a strategic element to the WNBA game,” said WNBA Head of League Operations Bethany Donaphin. “We will look at the rule on a trial basis and monitor the data around its use throughout the season.”
The coach’s challenge rule will allow a team one challenge per game (including overtime), regardless of whether the challenge is successful. This was one of the more popular rules changes. Other changes, such as the bench conduct policy, were not received as well.
The rule was implemented to “reduce disruptions and distractions during live play.” Players not in the game cannot “remain standing at or away from their team’s bench during the game for a prolonged period and, along with coaches, are prohibited from attempting to distract their opponents in an unsportsmanlike manner” with violations being subject to penalties.
The bench conduct rules were, to say the least, not popular on Twitter.
In My Opinion This New Bench Conduct By The WNBA Is Bull Mainly For When Playing Away. I’m Pretty Sure That At Times It Be Your Bench Cheering You On That Keep You Motivated. I Feel Like There’s Going To Be A lot Of Technicals This Season. #WNBATwitter pic.twitter.com/eMRV3T0wzN
— Tene (@Natural_Tene) May 3, 2023
What @T_Cloud4 said…. https://t.co/0VTRDwFCnn pic.twitter.com/dZ0o1kAmaO
— Chandler McCabe (@CoachMcCabe03) May 3, 2023
Cathy looked at everything that could use some work and decided on this. #WNBATwitter https://t.co/wzR2JD87EW
— Dana Holtzbert (@DanaHoltzbert) May 3, 2023
what does "distract their opponents in an unsportsmanlike manner" even mean? and the first part of this is just ridiculous, so they can't stand and cheer for their teammates now? dumb https://t.co/umZa8Idwvx
— 🐘shahira🐘 (@acharmingbore) May 3, 2023
Whhattt? Part of the fun is watching the Aces bench and @Deauzya hyping on the sideline. Booooo new rule. https://t.co/0IewCkst4G
— Tam🐝 (@TheTam122) May 3, 2023
whenever you find yourself in charge of regulating and growing a professional sports league it is so important that you eradicate every potential occurrence of fun https://t.co/pefyzVSBwP
— ugh (@838_carlisle) May 3, 2023
This has to be the worst rule change in @wnba history. @CathyEngelbert please reconsider. My kids spend so much time cheering on @T_Cloud4 and @_shatori both on the bench and on the court. They are endlessly entertaining https://t.co/6g1P8THXVQ
— Dr. Annie Selak (@aselak) May 3, 2023
Also, I really wonder how tightly this will be called, as there are some players who never ever sit. https://t.co/I1GmXjrSda
— Maggie Hendricks (@maggiehendricks) May 3, 2023
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