Is WNBA 3 Point Line Distance The Same As NBA?

The WNBA 3 point line vs NBA is 2.4 feet closer to the rim than the NBA 3 point line. The three point loop is 6.75 meters (22-ft, 1.75-in) from the basketball ring in the WNBA.

Depending on the level of competition, the WNBA 3 point line distance vs NBA between the basketball hoop and the three-point line can differ. The NBA vs WNBA 3 point line clearly shows they are not positioned in similar dimensions.

In the WNBA, the highest point of the arc that marks the 3-point area is located at a WNBA 3pt line distance of 22-foot-1.75 from the basketball hoop. However, the WNBA three point line distance from the corners of the court to the 3-point line is exactly 22 feet.

FIBA, NCAA tournaments, and NAIA divisions all use a similar shorter distance for the 3-point line, comparable to the one used in the WNBA.

One of many reasons why the WNBA 3-point line is shorter than the NBA is because of the dimension of the basketball. The WNBA ball is slightly smaller and lighter than the NBA ball, which makes it easier to shoot from a WNBA 3 point distance.

The official basketball used in the WNBA has a circumference of 28.5 inches, one inch smaller than the ball used in the NBA, 29.5 inches.

However, in order to make things fair, the three-point line is set parallel to the sidelines of the court. These arcs are located 3 feet (0.91 m) away from the sidelines in both the NBA and WNBA.

As you move closer to the center of the court, the distance from the basket gradually diminishes until it reaches a minimum of 22 feet (6.7 m).

From its implementation in 1979 until now, the three-point line in the NBA has been placed at a distance of 23 feet and 9 inches from the center and 22 feet from the corners.

However, in the 1990s, the NBA made a change to the rules where they reduced the distance of 3 point arc to 22 feet but switched back to the original after three years.

In the past, the size of players used to play a big role in determining the outcome of basketball games. However, with the introduction of the 3-point line, shorter players now have a powerful tool that helps level the playing field.

The ability to shoot from beyond the arc gives smaller players and teams a great advantage and a chance to compete against larger opponents. You have to look no further than to admire what Steph Curry, a 6-foot-2, has achieved, becoming the three-point king of the NBA.

Here are the rules for WNBA 3 point contest:

• Participants aim to score as many three-point fields as possible from five different spots located behind the 3p line.
• The goal is to make as many points as possible within 70 seconds.
• Participants start shooting from one corner of the court and move along the arc to the other corner.
• Each shooting station is equipped with a rack that holds five basketballs.
• Four balls are worth one point each, and a special "Money Ball" is worth two points.
• In one rack, all the balls are money balls.
• Previously, a perfect score was 30 points, but since 2014, a rack consisting only of "money balls" has been added, increasing the maximum possible score to 34 points.
• In the 2020 challenge, two additional Mountain Dew shots were added at each side of the top of the key, worth three points each, increasing the maximum possible score to 40.
• The competition is two rounds. Players try to score as many points as possible in the qualifying round.
• The finals will be determined by the top three scorers from the qualifying round.
• The final round is played the same way as the qualification round, but the shooting order is based on the ascending order of the first-round results.
• Shots and scores are confirmed by the referee and by the instant replay system on television.
• In the finals, shooting is done in the reversal (left to right corner for a left-handed shooter and vice versa).
• In the event of a tie, multiple 30-second overtime rounds (1 minute in the finals) will be played to determine the winner.

While the majority of contest rules between the WNBA and NBA are similar, there is a difference in the allotted time given to participants to score during certain events.

In the NBA, each participant is given a 60-second or 1-minute timer to score. However, in the WNBA, the timer is slightly increased by 10 seconds, giving participants a total of 70 seconds to showcase their scoring abilities.

WNBA All Star 3 point contest 2023 was held on 14 July 2023 at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

New York Liberty point guard Sabrina Ionescu stole everyone's attention with an incredible performance during the final round. She set a new record by hitting 20 shots in a row at one moment, only missing the target twice.

In the end, Ionescu finished with a remarkable 37 points, making it the highest score ever recorded in both WNBA and NBA 3-Point Contests. The previous record for the NBA was 31 points, and for the WNBA, it was 30 points.

Sabrina Ionescu 3 Point Contest 2023

Sabrina Ionescu created history in the three-point contest scoring an incredible 37 points out of a maximum of 40.

She was on fire, making 20 shots in a row without missing.  Her performance was truly outstanding and will be remembered for years to come.

A total of six players competed in the WNBA 3pt contest 2023, which took place a night before the All-Star game. DiJonai Carrington and Sami Whitcomb, who did not make it to the All-Star game, receive an opportunity to showcase their skills in the three-point contest.

Whitcomb won the first round with 28 points, while Ionescu followed her closely to earn second place with 26 points. Arike Ogunbowale of Dallas Wings came third with 21 points.

The top three players advanced to the final round, while the remaining three, Carrington, Kelsey Mitchell, and Jackie Young, were out of the competition.

In the second round, the 25-year-old Califonia native set a new 3 pt contest record. Sabrina attempted 121 shots managing 54 to find the net, a 44.6 % accuracy.

Meanwhile, the Seattle Storm star Sami Whitcomb finished in second place with 24 points, four fewer than her first-round result. Arike Ogunbowale earned the third position with 11 points in the finale.