WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced on Saturday that the league will establish a centralized replay center beginning with the 2027 season. The facility will be located in Secaucus, New Jersey, where it will operate alongside the NBA’s existing replay infrastructure that has been in place since 2014. Engelbert characterized the investment, valued at tens of millions of dollars, as one of the most significant the league has made in basketball operations.
The WNBA currently employs a replay review system that allows coaches two challenges per game and enables officials to review specific plays using available monitors. However, the system has limitations, as not all WNBA arenas are equipped with the same camera angles, and officials can only consult with crew members working the game. The new centralized facility will address these constraints by connecting directly to every WNBA arena and transmitting footage instantly to replay personnel in Secaucus, who will identify conclusive angles and relay them to the officiating crew on the court.
Implementation of the replay center will require upgrades to many WNBA arenas during the offseason to match the camera equipment standards already present in some venues that share facilities with NBA teams. Engelbert acknowledged that operational details remain under finalization, particularly regarding technology implementation across the variety of arenas where the WNBA plays, including facilities used for only a limited number of games.
The replay center announcement follows persistent concerns about WNBA officiating quality that have generated significant public discussion in recent years. During the 2025 playoffs, a controversial non-call prompted both a head coach and player to criticize the league’s officiating standards. The league established a task force to address consistency and physicality concerns, with early reports indicating some improvements. Engelbert noted that recent statistical measures including scoring, field goal percentage, and three-pointers have reached all-time highs, though she acknowledged an adjustment period would be necessary.
The WNBA has not yet decided to implement a Last Two Minute Report similar to the NBA’s system, which provides detailed documentation of all calls and significant non-calls in critical game moments. Engelbert indicated that while discussions with players have occurred, such an initiative would require substantial additional resources and remains under consideration.
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