Rule No. 5: Scoring and Timing
| I: Scoring | II: Timing | III: End of Period |
| IV: Tie Score-Overtime | V: Stoppage of Timing Devices | VI: 20-Second Timeout |
| VII: Regular Timeouts-120 Seconds | VIII: Timeout Requests | IX: Time-In |
a. A legal field goal or free throw attempt shall be scored when a live ball enters the basket from above and remains in or passes through the net.
b. A successful field goal attempt from the area on or inside the three-point field goal line shall count two points.
c. A successful field goal attempt from the area outside the three-point field goal line shall count three points.
(1) The shooter must have at least one foot on the floor outside the three-point field goal line prior to the attempt.
(2) The shooter may not be touching the floor on or inside the three-point field goal line.
(3) The shooter may contact the three-point field goal line, or land in the two-point field goal area, after the ball is released.
d. A field goal accidentally scored in an opponent's basket shall be added to the opponent's score, credited to the opposing player nearest the shooter and mentioned in a footnote.
e. A field goal that, in the opinion of the officials, is intentionally scored in the wrong basket shall be disallowed. The ball shall be awarded to the opposing team out-of-bounds at the free throw line extended.
f. A successful free throw attempt shall count one point.
g. An unsuccessful free throw attempt which is tapped into the basket shall count two points and shall be credited to the player who tapped the ball in.
h. If there is a discrepancy in the score and it cannot be resolved, the running score shall be official.
a. Regulation play in the WNBA will be two twenty-minute halves.
b. All overtime periods of play will be five minutes.
c. Fifteen minutes will be permitted between halves of all games.
d. 120 seconds will be permitted for regular timeouts and between the second half and or any overtime period.
e. A team is permitted 30 seconds to replace a disqualified player.
f. The game is considered to be in the one-minute period when the game clock shows 1:00 or less time remaining in the game.
g. The public address operator is required to announce that there is one minute remaining in regulation and any overtime periods.
h. The game clock shall be equipped to show tenths-of-a-second during the last minute of regulation or overtime periods.
a. Each period ends when time expires.
Exception:
(1) If a live ball is in flight, the period ends when the goal is made, missed or touched by an offensive player.
(2) If a personal or technical foul occurs at :00.0 on the game clock but the horn or buzzer has not sounded, the period officially ends after the free throw(s) is attempted. The free throw(s) will be attempted immediately.
(3) If the ball is in the air when the buzzer sounds ending a period, and it subsequently is touched by:
(a) a defensive player, the goal, if successful, shall count; or
(b) an offensive player, the period has ended.
(4) If a timeout request is made at approximately the instant time expires for a period, the period ends and the timeout shall not be granted.
b. If the ball is dead and the game clock shows :00.0, the period has ended even though the buzzer may not have sounded.
If the score is tied at the end of the 2nd half, play shall resume in 120 seconds without change of baskets for any of the overtime periods required.
Section V-Stoppage of Timing Devices
a. The timing devices shall be stopped whenever the official's whistle sounds indicating one of the following:
(1) A personal or technical foul.
(2) A jump ball
(3) A floor violation.
(4) An unusual delay.
(5) A suspension-of-play for any other emergency (no substitutions are permitted.)
(6) A regular or 20-second timeout.
b. The timing devices shall be stopped during the last minute of each half and/or overtime(s) following a successful field goal attempt.
c. Officials may not use official time to permit a player to change or repair equipment.
A player's request for a 20-second timeout shall be granted only when the ball is dead or in control of the team making the request. A request at any other time shall be ignored.
Exception: The head coach may request a 20-second timeout if there is a suspension of play to administer Comments on the Rules-O-Guidelines for Infection Control.
a. Each team is entitled to one
(1) 20-second timeout in the first half and two
(2) 20-second timeouts in the second half. Timeouts unused in the first half may not be utilized in the second half.
b. For the overtime period, each team is entitled to one additional 20-second timeout plus one unused 20-second timeout carried over from the second half for a maximum of two 20-second timeouts per team.
c. During a 20-second timeout, a team may only substitute for one player. If the team calling the 20-second timeout replaces a player, the opposing team may also replace one player.
d. Only one player per team may be replaced during a 20-second timeout. If two players on the same team are injured at the same time and must be replaced, the coach must call a regular (120-second) timeout.
e. The official shall instruct the timer to record the 20 seconds and to inform him/her when the time has expired. A regular timeout will be charged if play is unable to resume at the expiration of that 20-second time limit.
Exception: No regular timeout remaining.
f. The rule may be used for any reason, including a request for a rule interpretation. If the correction is sustained, no timeout shall be charged.
g. Players should say "20-second timeout" when requesting 20-second timeout.
h. A team is entitled to advance the ball during the last minute of the game or the overtime when a 20-second timeout is called.
i. If a 20-second timeout has been granted and a mandatory timeout is due, only the mandatory timeout will be charged.
j. A 20-second timeout shall not be granted to the defensive team during an official's suspension-of-play for
(1) delay-of-game warning,
(2) retrieving an errant ball,
(3) an inadvertent whistle or
(4) any other unusual circumstance.
Exception: Suspension of play for a player bleeding. See Comments on the Rules-O.
Section VII-Regular Timeouts-120 Seconds
A player's request for a timeout shall be granted only when the ball is dead or in control of the team making the request. A request at any other time shall be ignored.
A team is in control when one of its players has possession of the ball on the floor, in the air or following a successful field goal by the opposing team. A request at any other time is to be ignored. Timeouts are considered regular unless the player calls, "20-second timeout."
Exception: The head coach may request a regular timeout if there is a suspension of play to administer Comments on the Rules-O-Guidelines for Infection Control.
a. There must be four
(4) timeouts per half. If neither team has taken a regular timeout prior to the 16-, 12-, 8- and 4-minute marks in each half, it shall be mandatory for the Official Scorer to take a regular timeout at the next dead ball.
b. Each team is entitled to one
(1) regular timeout per half during regulation play. Unused timeouts will not carryover from the first half to the second half. Each team will also be granted one
(1) 20-second timeout in the first half (no carryover) and two
(2) 20-second timeouts in the second half.
c. In overtime periods, each team shall be allowed one
(1) regular timeout plus one 20-second timeout. Unused regular timeouts from the 2nd half will not be carried over into overtime. However, unused 20-second timeouts can be carried over, with a maximum of two 20-second timeouts per team permitted in any overtime period. There is no restriction as to when a team must call its timeouts during any overtime period.
No regular timeout shall be granted to the defensive team during an official's suspension-of-play for
(1) a delay-of-game warning,
(2) retrieving an errant ball,
(3) an inadvertent whistle, or
(4) any other unusual circumstance.
Exception: Suspension-of-play for player bleeding. See Comments on the Rules-O.
d. If a regular or 20-second timeout is awarded to the offensive team during the last minute of regulation play or overtime and
(1) the ball is out-of-bounds in the backcourt, or
(2) after securing the ball from a rebound and prior to any advance of the ball, or
(3) after securing the ball from a change of possession and prior to any advance of the ball, the timeout shall be granted. Upon resumption of play, they shall have the option of putting the ball into play at the midcourt line, with the ball having to be passed into the frontcourt, or at the designated spot out-of-bounds.
However, once the ball is
(1) thrown in from out-of-bounds, or
(2) dribbled or passed after receiving it from a rebound or a change of possession, the timeout shall be granted, and, upon resumption of play, the ball shall be in-bounded at the spot nearest where the ball was when the timeout was called. In the last minute
of regulation play or overtime, the official shall ask the head coach the type of timeout desired-(regular or 20-second)-prior to notifying the scorer's table. This applies only to a requested timeout.
e. No timeout shall be charged if it is called to question a rule interpretation and the correction is sustained.
f. Requests for a timeout in excess of the authorized number shall be granted and a technical foul shall be assessed. Following the timeout, the ball will be awarded to the opposing team and play shall resume with a throw-in nearest the spot where play was interrupted.
a. If an official, upon receiving a timeout request (regular or 20-second) by the defensive team, inadvertently signals for a timeout while the play is in progress, play shall be suspended and the team in possession shall put the ball in play immediately at the sideline nearest where the ball was when the signal was given. The team in possession shall have only the time remaining of the original ten seconds in which to move the ball into the frontcourt. The 30-second clock shall remain the same.
b. If an official, upon receiving a timeout request (regular or 20-second) from the defensive team, inadvertently signals for a timeout during:
(1) a successful field goal or free throw attempt, the point(s) shall be scored;
(2) an unsuccessful field goal attempt, play shall be resumed with a jump ball at the center circle between any two opponents;
(3) an unsuccessful free throw attempt, the official shall rule disconcerting and award a substitute free throw.
c. If an official inadvertently blows his/her whistle during
(1) a successful field goal or free throw attempt, the points shall be scored, or
(2) an unsuccessful field goal or free throw attempt, play shall be resumed with a jump ball at the center circle between any two opponents.
d. When a team is granted a regular or 20-second time-out, play shall not resume until the full 120 seconds or 20 seconds, as the case may be, have elapsed. The throw-in shall be nearest the spot where play was suspended. The throw-in shall be on the sideline, if the ball was in play when the request was granted.
a. After time has been out, the game clock shall be started when the official signals time-in. The timer is authorized to start the game clock if officials neglect to signal.
b. On a free throw that is unsuccessful and the ball continues in play, the game clock shall be started when the missed free throw is touched by any player.
c. If play is resumed by a throw-in from out-of-bounds, the game clock shall be started when the ball is legally touched by any player within the playing area of the court.
d. If play is resumed with a jump ball, the game clock shall be started when the ball is legally tapped.