A WNBA Primer: Part I
By Ian Levy
The NBA season has just a few weeks left at most, and that’s if the Cavaliers are able to push this series to six or seven games. And when that final buzzer sounds on the 2014-15 NBA season, it will be almost five months until it returns. Of course there will be the draft, and free agency, and summer league, and constant discussion to keep us occupied. But what if you want to watch actual basketball games?
That’s right, the WNBA gets underway tonight, with five games on the docket, including a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals as the Indiana Fever travel to Chicago to take on the Sky.
7:00 PM EST: Washington Mystics at Connecticut Sun
7:30 PM EST: Atlanta Dream at New York Liberty
8:00 PM EST: Tulsa Shock at Minnesota Lynx
8:30 PM EST: Indiana Fever at Chicago Sky
10:00 PM EST: San Antonio Stars at Phoenix Mercury
With the season getting started tonight, and many people’s attention still turned wholly towards the NBA, we’ll be here over the next few days with a primer to get you all ready to go for the 2015 WNBA season. Today will be more about general information about the league and how to watch, while sometime in the next few days we’ll take a look at players and teams to watch.
How many teams are in the WNBA?
The WNBA features 12 teams, six in each conference. Here is a breakdown of the two conferences via WNBA.com.
How long is the WNBA season?
The WNBA season runs from June-September, with each team playing 34 regular season games. The 2015 WNBA All-Star Game will be held on July 25 in Connecticut, with the Sun hosting for the fourth time.
How many teams qualify for the playoffs?
8 teams qualify for the playoffs, four from each conference. Since there are no divisions, it is simply the four best teams from each conference who advance to the postseason.
How do the playoffs work?
The first round is a best-of-three series, with the number one seed facing the number four seed, and the number two seed facing the number three seed. Each series is played in a 1-1-1 format, with the higher seed holding home-court advantage and getting to host Games 1 and 3.
The two teams that advance from the first round in each conference will then play each other in the Conference Finals, which is also a best-of-three series played in a 1-1-1 format.
The champions from each conference will then face each other in the WNBA Finals. The Finals is a best-of-five series, played in a 2-2-1 format, with the higher seed hosting Games 1, 2, and 5.
Are any of the rules different from the NBA?
- WNBA games are 40 minutes long, with four 10-minute quarters. Overtime periods are five minutes.
- The WNBA uses a basketball with a circumference of 28.5 inches, one inch smaller than the NBA basketball.
- The WNBA uses a 30 second shot clock.
- The bonus goes into effect on the eighth team foul of the half. The eighth team foul, as well as any foul afterwards, will result in two free throws.
How can you watch the WNBA?
- WNBA Live Access, which is the WNBA’s equivalent to League Pass. It costs just $14.99 for the whole season, and there is a free trial running from tonight until June 9th. For more information about Live Access, go here.
- Games will also be shown on ESPN 2, ABC, NBA TV, and ESPN 3 all season long. For a complete schedule, go here.
Besides Friendly Bounce, where can you follow the league online?