Diferencias en las estadísticas de juego entre bases, aleros y pívots en baloncesto femenino. (Differences between women’s basketball guards, forwards and centres through game-related statistics)

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to analyze the differences in game-related statistics between basketball guards, forwards and centres from the WNBA League (professional league in fe- male basketball in USA, organized by the Women National Bas- ketball Association). The sample was gathered from the WNBA boxscores from the 2005 season (n= 215 games), selecting an amount of 75 players (30 guards, 30 forwards and 15 centres). Furthermore, all the players have played a minimum of 20 min- utes per game. The game-related statistics analyzed were: minutes played, points scored, free-throws (both successful and unsuccessful), 2 and 3 points field-goals (both successful and unsuccessful), offensive and defensive rebounds, blocks, assists, fouls, turnovers and steals. Discriminant analysis was used when trying to identify the game-related statistics that better dis- criminate between player positions (p ≤ 0.05), using as inter- pretation a structure coefficient greater than |0.30|. The results showed the differences between guards and centres with em- phasis in assists (CE= -0.44), successful 3 points field-goals (CE=-0.33), unsuccessful 3 points field-goals (CE= -0.48); and with a de-emphasis in the offensive rebounds (CE= 0.39), defensive rebounds (CE= 0.42), blocks (CE= 0.44) and fouls (CE= 0.38). The results enhance the importance of guards in attack phases; and centres in defensive and offensive actions. Conversely, the forwards showed mean values in all the game- related statistics.