WNBA to Launch Centralized Replay Center for Start of 2027 Season to Assist Referees

The WNBA announced Saturday that the league will launch centralized replay center operations for the beginning of the 2027 season.

The league will leverage the NBA's replay center in Secaucus, New Jersey to provide on-court officials with access to multiple camera angles as well as support from replay officials at the center.

"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," WNBA head of league operations Bethany Donaphin said as part of the announcement. "Leveraging the NBA's state-of-the-art Replay Center is an important step in the continued evolution of our game. 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."

Under the current system, plays are reviewed by the three officials that are present at each game.

The crew chief and the calling official review plays and make rulings with the assistance of the third official as required or at the discretion of the crew chief. The third official is also tasked with monitoring the benches of each team.

Starting in 2027, the WNBA replay center will be directly connected to every arena. Once a review is initiated, broadcast and in-arena camera angles will instantly transfer to the replay center before league personnel will identify conclusive views and send them to the on-court officiating crew.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert weighed in on the updated replay system.

"This investment of 10s of millions of dollars will help bring greater consistency, efficiency, and transparency to our officiating process, while continuing to improve the quality of the game," Engelbert said Saturday, per ESPN's Kendra Andrews.

While officials won't change the way they review plays for the remainder of the 2026 season, changes to expedite the replay process are coming in the near future.