The WNBA is tightening its standards on fouls, revising fines for technical fouls, flagrants, and flopping starting in the 2026 season. The new fine structure will increase amounts to 2.5 times more than in 2025, aiming to improve the game's physicality.
Key points
WNBA tightening standards on fouls
New fine structure for technical fouls and flagrants
Fines increased to 2.5 times more than 2025
Changes agreed upon in the league's CBA
Cheryl Reeve supports the new enforcement approach
Mentioned in this story
Cheryl Reeve
WNBA
The WNBA is tightening its standards around the number of fouls committed in games.
A new Front Office Sports report notes that starting with the 2026 season, the league is revising its fine structure for technical fouls, flagrants and flopping. The new structure, agreed upon in the league's CBA, raises fine amounts to 2.5 times more than the cost in 2025 but at a lower rate than the salaries for players.
On Tuesday, during a national availability session with the media, Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve, who had been particularly critical of officiating and the league's physicality in the past, shared her thoughts on the new fines.
"What I'm excited about is that there is an understanding that how our game has looked the last two years is not how we want it going forward. While they were hard at work on the collective bargaining agreement, we were hard at work on the state of the game," Reeve said
"It may take us a little while to really calibrate and get where we want to be. We've seen a lot of fouls being called. What we've committed to as sort of the stewards of the game (is) that we know that players are smart, and they'll adjust.
"We're working really hard because we don't want the level of physicality that we've seen in our game, and so I'm confident that the game is gonna, therefore, be more fluid, (with) freedom of movement. We play beautiful basketball in the WNBA. We gotta make sure that it's not marred with unnecessary physical contact."
2026: Azzi Fudd, Dallas Wings (Connecticut)
Q&A
What changes is the WNBA making to foul enforcement for the 2026 season?
The WNBA is increasing fines for technical fouls, flagrants, and flopping, making them 2.5 times higher than in 2025.
How will the new fine structure affect WNBA players' salaries?
The new fine amounts will be higher but set at a lower rate compared to players' salaries.
What did Cheryl Reeve say about the new foul enforcement changes?
Cheryl Reeve expressed excitement about the league's commitment to improving the game's physicality and acknowledged the need for adjustments.
Why is the WNBA revising its foul enforcement policies?
The league aims to address concerns about the physicality of the game and improve the overall quality of play.
2000: Ann Wauters, Cleveland Rockers (USV Olympic, France)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
1999: Chamique Holdsclaw, Washington Mystics (Tennessee)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
1998: Margo Dydek, Utah Starzz (Fota Porta Gdynia, Poland)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
1997: Tina Thompson, Houston Comets (Southern California)
Reeve isn't the only coach who has noticed that there have been many more calls than usual this preseason. On Monday, Atlanta Dream head coach Karl Smesko also shared his thoughts on the increased number of calls.
"We had a meeting with (officials) that kind of told us the things that were gonna be called really tight in the preseason. They were gonna clean up some of the contact, and I think they have. There's been a lot of fouls called in the preseason so far, and if officials continue with that, our players are gonna have to adjust to the way the game is called," Smesko said.
The change in officiating has also been felt at the player level. Dallas Wings rookie Azzi Fudd couldn't believe some of the calls she received during a preseason game against the Aces on Sunday. Fudd had three fouls in 16 minutes of play.
"I thought you could be physical in the (WNBA), and any time you touch someone, it's a foul," Fudd said. "So I'm not really sure whether to be physical or whether to you know, like (hold my hands up). I don't know. So, I'm still figuring that out."