How are timeouts handled in the first half of a WBB game?

[Dublin]

If there are 4 timeouts for each team in the first half and if a team wants to give their star player a breather, why don't they strategically use some of those timeouts to give their star a well-deserved quick rest period, rather than substituting for her?

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Because those 4 time outs are all you get for the entire game. If you use them in the first half, they are not available in the 2nd half.

There is one additional 30 second time out added in over-time, as well as any remaining time-outs.

 

[southofnorth]

Some coaches do that, but there’s a media timeout in every quarter (I think at the first stoppage with under 5 minutes left in the quarter), so most coaches probably expect their players to be able to handle at least that much play before needing a breather. Subbing a player out right before the media timeout (if possible; I believe Lisa Bluder [Iowa] did that with Clark at some point today) can also add a bit extra to that break. Plus stoppages in game for fouls, turnovers, etc. also provide a brief breather.

 

[Forego]

There is also longer stoppages of play between the first and second quarter, at half time, and between the third and fourth quarters. As southofnorth points out Coach Bluder did rest Clark by taking her off the court a minute or so before the stoppages in play.

 

[Jim]

Plus, during the NCAA tournament the media timeouts are longer than the regular season to give networks a chance to sell more commercials.