wnba-data — Claude Code skill: what it does, how to install

---
name: wnba-data
description: |
  WNBA data via ESPN public endpoints — scores, standings, rosters, schedules, game summaries, play-by-play, win probability, injuries, transactions, futures, team/player stats, leaders, and news. Zero config, no API keys.

  Use when: user asks about WNBA scores, standings, team rosters, schedules, game stats, box scores, play-by-play, injuries, transactions, betting futures, team/player statistics, or WNBA news.
  Don't use when: user asks about NBA (use nba-data), college basketball (use cbb-data), or other sports.
license: MIT
metadata:
  author: machina-sports
  version: "0.1.0"
---

# 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:
```bash
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:
```bash
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:
```bash
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

| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| `get_scoreboard` | Live/recent WNBA scores |
| `get_standings` | Standings by conference |
| `get_teams` | All WNBA teams |
| `get_team_roster` | Full roster for a team |
| `get_team_schedule` | Schedule for a specific team |
| `get_game_summary` | Detailed box score and scoring plays |
| `get_leaders` | WNBA statistical leaders |
| `get_news` | WNBA news articles |
| `get_play_by_play` | Full play-by-play for a game |
| `get_win_probability` | Win probability chart data |
| `get_schedule` | Schedule for a specific date or season |
| `get_injuries` | Injury reports across all teams |
| `get_transactions` | Recent transactions |
| `get_futures` | Futures/odds markets |
| `get_team_stats` | Team statistical profile |
| `get_player_stats` | Player statistical profile |

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