Section 3: Playing Area
Court Dimensions
The WNBA plays on a regulation NBA-size court, since league franchises share arenas with NBA teams and other tenants. The court is rectangular with the following specifications:
- Length: 94 feet (28.65 m) end line to end line
- Width: 50 feet (15.24 m) sideline to sideline
- Surface: Polished hardwood (typically northern hard maple)
- Boundary lines: 2 inches (5.08 cm) wide, considered out of bounds
Key Court Markings
- Center circle: 12 feet (3.66 m) in diameter at the exact midpoint of the court, used for the opening jump ball
- Half-court line: Divides the court into the offensive and defensive halves
- Free throw line: 15 feet (4.57 m) from the backboard
- Free throw lane (the "key" or "paint"): 16 feet (4.88 m) wide, rectangular, extending from the baseline to the free throw line
- Restricted area (no-charge arc): A semicircle with a 4-foot (1.22 m) radius centered under the basket, used to determine block/charge fouls near the rim
- Three-point line: Arc at 22 feet 1.75 inches (6.75 m) from the center of the basket, with the parallel side segments straightening to 22 feet (6.71 m) in the corners — identical to NBA distance
- Coaching boxes: Marked along each sideline in front of the team bench; the head coach must remain within this area during play
- Substitution box: The area at the scorer's table where substitutes report
Basket and Backboard Position
- Basket centerline: Located 5 feet 3 inches (1.60 m) from the inner edge of the baseline
- Backboard overhang: The inner edge of the backboard is 4 feet (1.22 m) from the baseline, with the rim extending 6 inches (15.24 cm) inward from the backboard
Team Bench and Scorer's Table
Each team bench is located on the same sideline, separated by the scorer's table. The scorer's table is staffed by the official scorer, timekeeper, shot clock operator, and a league-assigned table observer. Teams are permitted up to 13 active and inactive players to sit in the bench area, along with the coaching staff, athletic trainers, and team physician.