Rules...     (WNBA vs NBA)

Rules are governed by standard basketball rules as defined by the NBA, with a few notable exceptions:

The three-point line is 20 feet and 6.25 inches (6.25 m) from the middle of the basket, in line with FIBA regulations. The regulation WNBA ball is a minimum 28.5 inches (72.4 cm) in circumference, 1.00 inch (2.54 cm) smaller than the NBA ball. As of 2004, this size is used for all senior-level women's competitions worldwide. There is no block/charge arc under the basket.

Starting with the 2006 WNBA season, all games are divided into four 10-minute quarters as opposed to the league's original two 20-minute halves of play, as to fit with international procedures (many WNBA players play in Europe or Australia in the Northern Hemisphere autumn and winter). The NBA rule on jump balls is used, including determining possession for the second, third, and fourth periods (i.e. team winning tip is awarded the ball at the beginning of the fourth quarter; the other team gets it to start the second and third periods). Under the two-half format both periods started with jump balls, presumably to prevent teams from losing the opening tip on purpose in order to get the ball first in the second half. This is not a problem under the four quarters because the team that wins the tip gets the ball first in the final period.

Also in 2006, the shot clock was decreased from 30 to 24 seconds and the league began adopting NBA rules (14 second reset on any defensive foul if less than such time remains when a foul is called). The rule changes signaled a move away from rules more similar to those of college basketball and toward those that provide a more NBA-like game.

In 2007, the rules were changed again. The amount of time that a team can move the ball across the half-court line went from 10 to 8 seconds. In addition, a referee can grant time-outs to both a player or the coach, as in the NBA.