Section 6: Scoring
Field Goals
- Two-point field goal (2 points): A basket made from inside the three-point arc. This includes layups, dunks, hook shots, floaters, and mid-range jump shots.
- Three-point field goal (3 points): A basket made from beyond the three-point arc. The shooter's feet must be completely behind (not touching) the three-point line at the time of the shot. If any part of the shooter's foot is on the line, the basket counts as two points.
Free Throws
- Free throw (1 point each): Uncontested shots taken from the free throw line, awarded after certain fouls
- The shooter must release the ball within the time prescribed by the rule book after receiving it from the official
- Other players line up in designated lane spaces during free throw attempts: two offensive players occupy the first spaces closest to the baseline, and three defensive players occupy the second and third spaces on each side
- Players may not enter the lane or cross the free throw line extended until the ball touches the rim
Free Throw Awards
- Shooting foul on a successful 2-point shot: Basket counts (2 points) plus 1 free throw (the "and-one")
- Shooting foul on a missed 2-point shot: 2 free throws
- Shooting foul on a successful 3-point shot: Basket counts (3 points) plus 1 free throw
- Shooting foul on a missed 3-point shot: 3 free throws
- Foul on a non-shooter while team is in the bonus: 2 free throws (after the threshold of team fouls per period has been crossed)
- Technical foul: 1 free throw plus possession for the offended team
- Flagrant foul (Type 1 or 2): 2 free throws plus possession for the offended team
Winning the Game
- The team with the higher score at the end of regulation play wins the game
- If the score is tied at the end of regulation, overtime periods are played until a team has a higher score at the end of a period
- WNBA games cannot end in a tie
Playoffs and Championship
The top finishing teams from the regular season qualify for the WNBA Playoffs, an elimination tournament conducted in successive rounds of best-of series. The tournament culminates in the WNBA Finals, which determines the league champion. Specific bracket size, seeding rules, and series formats are governed by the league's Playoff Manual and are subject to revision in advance of each postseason. Refer to the official key-dates page at wnba.com/keydates for the current postseason schedule.