Report: WNBA to Introduce 'Hockey Substitutions' During 2019 All-Star Game

The WNBA is pushing the envelope.

SB Nation's Matt Ellentuck wrote Thursday night that a league spokesperson has confirmed to him each team will be allowed to "deploy one live-ball sub per quarter" during Saturday night's 2019 WNBA All-Star Game.

Ellentuck called the substitution rule a "modified version of hockey" before giving a more specific description:

"These special substitutions will see one player in a designated 'check-in spot' near mid-court wait for a player to tag her onto the floor. Only the team on offense can swap a player in while the ball is live. Additionally, a player throwing the ball in-bounds can not be live-subbed. Regular substitutions will occur throughout the game as well."

This year's WNBA All-Star festivities will take place in Las Vegas, but will what happens in Vegas stay in Vegas as far as this experiment goes? 

At least one player seems to hope so. 

Minnesota Lynx rookie Napheesa Collier told Ellentuck she's worried the live-ball subs will lead to "mass chaos" before admitting it's a bit "weird."

The league is also implementing a 20-second shot clock reduced from the usual 24 seconds for the All-Star Game, according to the WNBA's official website, which also outlines that the clock will reset to 14 seconds following an offensive rebound. 

Prior to the main event, the league's best players will participate in a Three-Point Contest and Skills Challenge during WNBA All-Star Friday Night. 

A Fan Fest will also be offered free to the public at Mandalay Bay both Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time. 

For a look at the full All-Star rosters picked by captains Elena Delle Donne and A'ja Wilson, visit WNBA.com. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET from Mandalay Bay, and the game will be available to watch on either ABC or online at Watch ESPN.