 Modifications Made to Instant Replay 

NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 2013  The WNBA Board of Governors approved six rules changes for the upcoming 2014 season, the league announced today.

Instant replay may now be used:

Instant replay may now be used during the last minute of the game or any point during an overtime period:

- When reviewing a block/charge play to determine whether the defender was inside or outside the restricted area, officials will now be permitted to reverse a charge call, or uphold a blocking call, when the defender was outside the restricted area but was not set when the offensive player began her upward shooting motion.

- To determine if a whistled goaltending or basket interference was correctly called.

Instant replay may now also be used at any point within a game:

- To determine whether an off-ball foul occurred before or after a player has started her shooting motion on a successful shot attempt, or before or after the ball was released on a throw-in.

- To permit the officials to assess the appropriate penalties of any unsportsmanlike and unnecessary acts (e.g. flagrant fouls) that are observed during the instant replay reviews.

Additional rules modifications:

- On clear-path-to-the-basket fouls, it will no longer be considered a clear-path foul if, at any point before the foul is committed, the defender who commits the foul is positioned ahead of the offensive player in the frontcourt.

- A team on offense will lose possession if its player leaves the floor and does not immediately return to the floor, unless she is injured, attempting to save the ball or in other extenuating circumstances.

Each of these rules was recommended by the WNBAs Competition Committee at its meeting on Dec. 4.