Over the second half of the season, ESPN2's WNBA pregame show featured the WNBA Shootaround Skills Challenge. Eight WNBA players went head to head in a bracketed competition featuring a timed "obstacle course" event consisting of dribbling, passing and shooting. Charlotte's Dawn Staley emerged as the champion.
FLOW OF PLAY
1) START - On referee�s whistle, the clock starts and the player picks up the first ball off of a pedestal. She proceeds to dribble along baseline towards the basket where she must make a:
2) LAYUP/DUNK - (NOTE: player must rebound the same ball if she misses and once the shot is made she will leave that ball behind), she then proceeds to the far side of court to:
3) NEW BALL - Picks up 2nd ball off pedestal and proceeds up court to:
4) CROSSOVER DRIBBLE - starting around the 1st pylon to the left, then around the 2nd pylon to the right, around the 3rd pylon to the left, and finally around the 4th pylon to the right, she then approaches:
5) CHEST PASS � Using the ball in her hand from the crossover dribble section, she attempts to complete the chest pass. If the first attempt is made, she moves on. If not, she must use the four additional balls on the corresponding ball rack until either (a) the pass is made or (b) all the balls are exhausted (one ball at a time/towards the target) � at which point she moves to:
6) BOUNCE PASS � Five balls on rack. Player may move on when the pass is made or when all five balls are exhausted (one ball at a time/towards the target) � at which point she moves to:
7) JUMP SHOT � Five balls on rack. Player may move on when the shot is made or when all five balls are exhausted (one ball at a time/towards the basket) � at which point she moves to:
8) OUTLET PASS � Five balls on rack. One final time, the player may move on when the pass is made or when all five balls are exhausted (one ball at a time/towards the target) � at which point she moves to:
9) NEW BALL � Picks up new ball on pedestal and proceeds back downcourt to:
10) SPEED DRIBBLE - starting around the 1st pylon to the left, around the 2nd pylon to the right and then around the 3rd pylon to the left, she then finishes up with:
11) FINAL BASKET � The clock will stop on the referee�s whistle, when the ball goes through the rim. Any type of shot may be taken as long as the final pylon in the speed dribble section has been cleared (at the referee�s discretion). Once again, the player must rebound the same ball if she misses and continue until she makes the basket to stop the clock.
NOTE: Players will be subject to disqualification (at the final discretion and judgment of the referee) for failure to attempt all of the challenges as they are designed and intended to be completed.
THE RULES
The two players with the fastest time from each conference advance to a Conference Final. The winners of both the East and West Conference Finals then advance to a Competition Finals to determine the champion.
Players will be timed on a clock starting at 00:00.0. The clock stops when the final shot is made. (Start and Stop is on ref's signal)
Players must observe basic WNBA ball-handling rules while completing the course.
The three passing and the "top of the key" shooting challenges are considered completed (player can move on) when she either (1) successfully hits the target/makes the shot OR (2) exhausts the corresponding rack of balls at the target/basket.
For the opening layup and the final shot, the player must rebound her own ball until the basket is made.
In the case of a tie in either round (times will be to the tenth of a second), the tied players will repeat the course.
Players are subject to disqualification (at the final discretion and judgment of the WNBA referee) for failure to attempt all of the challenges as they are designed and intended to be completed.
There are no "time penalty" assessments.