Wnba Data

WNBA Data

Before writing queries, consult references/api-reference.md for endpoints, ID conventions, and data shapes.

Setup

Before first use, check if the CLI is available:

which sports-skills || pip install sports-skills

If pip install fails with a Python version error, the package requires Python 3.10+. Find a compatible Python:

python3 --version  # check version
# If < 3.10, try: python3.12 -m pip install sports-skills
# On macOS with Homebrew: /opt/homebrew/bin/python3.12 -m pip install sports-skills

No API keys required.

Quick Start

Prefer the CLI — it avoids Python import path issues:

sports-skills wnba get_scoreboard
sports-skills wnba get_standings --season=2025
sports-skills wnba get_teams

CRITICAL: Before Any Query

CRITICAL: Before calling any data endpoint, verify:

• Season year is derived from the system prompt's currentDate — never hardcoded.
• If only a team name is provided, call get_teams to resolve the team ID before using team-specific commands.

Choosing the Season

Derive the current year from the system prompt's date (e.g., currentDate: 2026-02-18 → current year is 2026).

• If the user specifies a season, use it as-is.
• If the user says "current", "this season", or doesn't specify: The WNBA season runs May–October. If the current month is May–October, use season = current_year. If November–April (offseason), use season = current_year - 1.

Commands

See references/api-reference.md for full parameter lists and return shapes.

Examples

Example 1: Today's scores User says: "What are today's WNBA scores?" Actions: 1. Call get_scoreboard() Result: All live and recent WNBA games with scores and status

Example 2: Standings User says: "Show me the WNBA standings" Actions: 1. Derive season year from currentDate 2. Call get_standings(season=<derived_year>) Result: Eastern and Western conference standings with W-L, PCT, GB

Example 3: Team roster User says: "Who's on the Indiana Fever roster?" Actions: 1. Call get_team_roster(team_id="5") Result: Full Indiana Fever roster with name, position, jersey number

Example 4: Statistical leaders User says: "Show me WNBA statistical leaders" Actions: 1. Derive season year from currentDate 2. Call get_leaders(season=<derived_year>) Result: Leaders ranked by stat category (points, rebounds, assists, etc.)

Example 5: Championship odds User says: "What are the WNBA championship odds?" Actions: 1. Call get_futures(limit=10) Result: Top WNBA championship contenders with odds values

Example 6: Player statistics User says: "Show me A'ja Wilson's stats" Actions: 1. Derive season year from currentDate 2. Call get_player_stats(player_id="3149391", season_year=<derived_year>) Result: Season stats by category with value, rank, and per-game averages

Commands that DO NOT exist — never call these

• ~~get_odds~~ / ~~get_betting_odds~~ — not available. For prediction market odds, use the polymarket or kalshi skill.
• ~~search_teams~~ — does not exist. Use get_teams instead.
• ~~get_box_score~~ — does not exist. Use get_game_summary instead.
• ~~get_player_ratings~~ — does not exist. Use get_player_stats instead.

If a command is not listed in the Commands table above, it does not exist.

Error Handling

When a command fails, do not surface raw errors to the user. Instead: 1. Catch silently and try alternatives 2. If team name given instead of ID, use get_teams to find the ID first 3. Only report failure with a clean message after exhausting alternatives

Troubleshooting

Error: sports-skills command not found Cause: Package not installed Solution: Run pip install sports-skills

Error: Team not found by ID Cause: Wrong or outdated ESPN team ID used Solution: Call get_teams to get the current list of all WNBA teams with their IDs

Error: No data returned for a future game Cause: ESPN only returns data for completed or in-progress games Solution: Use get_schedule to see upcoming game details; get_scoreboard only covers active/recent games

Error: Offseason (November–April) — scoreboard returns 0 events Cause: No games scheduled during the offseason Solution: Use get_standings(season=<prior_year>) or get_news instead

WNBA Data — API Reference

Commands

get_scoreboard

Get live/recent WNBA scores.

• date (str, optional): Date in YYYY-MM-DD format. Defaults to today.

Returns events[] with game info, scores, status, and competitors.

get_standings

Get WNBA standings by conference.

• season (int, optional): Season year

Returns groups[] with Eastern/Western conferences and team standings including W-L, PCT, GB, and streak.

get_teams

Get all WNBA teams. No parameters.

Returns teams[] with id, name, abbreviation, logo, and location.

get_team_roster

Get full roster for a team.

• team_id (str, required): ESPN team ID (e.g., "5" for Indiana Fever)

Returns athletes[] with name, position, jersey number, height, weight, experience.

get_team_schedule

Get schedule for a specific team.

• team_id (str, required): ESPN team ID
• season (int, optional): Season year

Returns events[] with opponent, date, score (if played), and venue.

get_game_summary

Get detailed box score and scoring plays.

• event_id (str, required): ESPN event ID

Returns game_info, competitors, boxscore (stats per player), scoring_plays, and leaders.

get_leaders

Get WNBA statistical leaders (points, rebounds, assists, etc.).

• season (int, optional): Season year. Defaults to most recently completed season.

Returns categories[] with leader rankings per stat category.

get_news

Get WNBA news articles.

• team_id (str, optional): Filter by team

Returns articles[] with headline, description, published date, and link.

get_play_by_play

Get full play-by-play data for a game.

• event_id (str, required): ESPN event ID

Returns play-by-play detail including period, clock, team, play description, and scoring plays.

get_win_probability

Get win probability chart data for a game.

• event_id (str, required): ESPN event ID

Returns timestamped home/away win probability percentages throughout the game.

get_schedule

Get WNBA schedule for a specific date or season.

• date (str, optional): Date in YYYY-MM-DD format
• season (int, optional): Season year (used only if no date provided)

Returns events[] for the specified date.

get_injuries

Get current WNBA injury reports across all teams. No parameters.

Returns teams[] with per-team injury lists including player name, position, status, injury type, and detail.

get_transactions

Get recent WNBA transactions (trades, signings, waivers).

• limit (int, optional): Max transactions to return. Defaults to 50.

Returns transactions[] with date, team, and description.

get_futures

Get WNBA futures/odds markets (Championship winner, MVP, etc.).

• limit (int, optional): Max entries per market. Defaults to 25.
• season_year (int, optional): Season year. Defaults to current.

Returns futures[] with market name and entries (team/player name + odds value).

get_team_stats

Get full team statistical profile for a season.

• team_id (str, required): ESPN team ID
• season_year (int, optional): Season year. Defaults to current.
• season_type (int, optional): 2=regular (default), 3=postseason.

Returns categories[] with detailed stats including value, rank, and per-game averages.

get_player_stats

Get full player statistical profile for a season.

• player_id (str, required): ESPN athlete ID
• season_year (int, optional): Season year. Defaults to current.
• season_type (int, optional): 2=regular (default), 3=postseason.

Returns categories[] with detailed stats including value, rank, and per-game averages.

Team IDs

Use get_teams for the complete, authoritative list.

WNBA Team IDs

Tip: Use get_teams to get the full, accurate list of team IDs.