The WNBA revealed Saturday that a centralized replay center will be up and running by the time the 2027 season gets underway.
While the league already has a replay system in place, moving to a centralized model is designed to make the review process both quicker and more reliable.
The NBA has operated a cutting-edge replay facility in Secaucus, N.J., since 2014, and the WNBA will now share that same location as its central hub for handling all reviewable plays. On-court referees will be able to quickly pull up multiple camera angles and receive input from officials stationed in New Jersey to help ensure calls are made accurately and efficiently.
Bethany Donaphin, the WNBA’s head of league operations, spoke to the significance of the investment. “As the WNBA continues its extraordinary growth, we’re committed to investing in every aspect of the game, including the technology and resources that support players, teams, and officials,” she said. “Leveraging the NBA’s state-of-the-art replay center is an important step in the continued evolution of our game.”
She added, “It allows us to enhance the consistency and efficiency of replay reviews while embracing innovations that strengthen the competition and deliver the best possible experience for all our stakeholders.”
The announcement follows the league’s decision during the offseason to establish an officiating task force aimed at raising the standard of on-court calls — a topic that has drawn considerable attention in recent weeks following several controversial moments during games.
One of the most high-profile incidents involved Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas, who received a one-game suspension after officials determined she had “recklessly made contact with her fist to the throat area” of Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark during a June contest. No foul was whistled during the play itself, leaving both sides frustrated — Thomas and the Mercury were unhappy with how the discipline process unfolded, while the Fever were upset that no call was made in the moment.
Fever head coach Stephanie White made her feelings clear after the game. “You’ve got to call it,” White said. “It’s absolutely egregious and utterly disrespectful.”
The WNBA said current officials will rotate through staffing duties at the new centralized center.
