2K today unveiled new features and updates coming to The W* in NBA® 2K22 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles. The WNBA mode will introduce an all-new badge progression experience, three playable off-day experiences, and continue to provide ways to connect with friends online.

“Since introducing The W to NBA® 2K, we’ve set out to develop one of the most comprehensive sets of game modes and features focused on a women’s professional league,” said Felicia Steenhouse, Senior Producer at Visual Concepts. “It’s grounded in authenticity and delivers an experience that honours and elevates some of the best ballers in the world: the women of the WNBA.”

Building off last year’s unveil of The W*, this year continues to enhance the WNBA mode with added realism and more ways to experience the league both on and off the court:

• New Player Progression – With a new badge progression feature, players will be able to earn badges to improve their games as they embark on the journey to become WNBA legends. Competing on the court or grinding it out in practice, players will be able to equip and upgrade badges to customize their MyPLAYER builds based on their unique specialties;
• Off-Day Experience – The W introduces three new playable activities to make off-days count. Scrimmages, team practices, and contact workouts provide the opportunity for players to hone their craft as they develop throughout the season. In a franchise first, historic and current WNBA stars can be challenged in contact workouts to acquire new skills on one’s own path to greatness;
• The W Online – Returning to NBA 2K22 for PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S consoles, The W Online brings new ways to connect with the 2K community. Players will be able to link up with friends before the matchmaking process to take to the court as a team. By playing games in The W Online, players will be able to earn Season XP as they level up to earn new prizes and awards.

NBA 2K22: THE W

NBA 2K22 is giving you more to do in The W this year. Balance practice, games, and off day activities to boost your player’s skill set. Work out with WNBA players to refine your game and become the best player the league has ever seen.

Are you ready? The W is waiting for you. The WNBA is growing and is led by a new class of stars, and it’s your turn to join them. Start your career in The W and experience what it’s like to walk among legends. Become the player you were born to be and come as close as it gets to playing in the WNBA. Building off the success of The W in NBA 2K21, we’re giving you an even more authentic WNBA experience in NBA 2K22 [Available for PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X|S only]. Your player’s journey to WNBA stardom is going to require calculated decisions that positively or negatively impact how you progress during your career. These decisions will influence how your career pans out, meaning there will be greater rewards or bigger consequences. We’re giving you more opportunities to grow your game by making connections with some of the WNBA’s finest players, who will help you boost various abilities. Make contacts, work out with legends, and level your way up in more ways to play than ever before in NBA 2K22.

New Player Progression

Drum roll, please. NBA 2K22 is proud to announce an all-new Badge progression to The W. Along the way, you’ll earn badges, which improve areas of your player’s game. In NBA 2K22, you can customize your player’s badges freely, opening the door to endless possibilities and unique builds based on your specialities. When creating your MyPLAYER, you’ll see the available badges next to your attributes in the four categories of Finishing, Shooting, Playmaking, and Defence.

These will dictate how your player can improve and become more well-rounded. By playing games, you’ll fill the meter in each category, and you’ll earn badge points, which can be used to equip and upgrade badges. Managing and editing your badges is easy by saving custom badge loadouts specific to your MyPLAYER. By doing so, you can fine-tune your experience and get strategic when facing off in various experiences in The W.

Off-Day Experience

Honing your craft takes dedication. We get it, but everyone deserves an off-day too. This year we added three new playable activities to the off-day experience for you to participate in. We want you to be more thoughtful and balanced in your workout regimen, meaning the choices you make will play a role in how you progress, gain popularity, and build your wallet. The three new playable modes will grant you and your MyPLAYER the closest thing to becoming a WNBA pro.

The W delivers more opportunities to improve your game and the most authentic experience to date. Scrimmages will be a great way for you to practice with teammates in a short game, lasting only one quarter. If you want to be a team player, this is how you earn team chemistry with your squad, leading to more trust on the court. In addition to scrimmages, join team practices and work on specific skills during drills to earn badges and upgrade them. Filling out the stat sheet in a big game is a special feeling, but to take centre stage you need to practice. It’s never a bad idea to get in the coach’s ear either, and it might just get you a little extra, like two additional team drills. Coaches can be helpful, but so can current and former WNBA players. NBA 2K22 will feature contact workouts, an exciting way of learning new skills in The W.

Progressing through the Season will help you form connections with some of the WNBA’s brightest stars, such as Candace Parker, A’ja Wilson, and Nneka Ogwumike. You’ll be able to challenge them to 1-on-1, 2-on-2, or even 3-on-3 games of 21. Best of all, you’ll be able to join forces with players after you make contact with them. You can choose to play alongside a player or go toe-to-toe against them in future workouts. Each contact specializes in different skills and will help you improve one of your badge categories. By beating them, you’ll boost your badge in that category significantly. If you can’t defeat your contact the first time around, it’s all good. You can always run it back as many times as you like. We want to get you started by giving you three WNBA contacts the moment you step into The W — it’s good to have connections. You’ve got the skills to become a WNBA legend, but you need guidance on your path to greatness. NBA 2K22 allows you to turn idols into mentors and legends into advisors. Learn from your WNBA heroes and become the face of the next generation in The W.

The W Online

Returning to NBA 2K22, The W Online is ready to get underway, but with a couple of added elements. Now you’ll be able to link with your friends before the matchmaking process. The W Online will allow you to play online with your friends and take the court as a team. Whether you’re competing with your friends or solo, you’ll earn Season XP by playing games. Leveling up will earn you new prizes and rewards, such as two new historic contacts from the Houston Comets and New York Liberty who will be playable during contact workouts! At the start of every season, we’ll refresh the historic contacts so you can keep growing your network.

The W’s all-new off day experiences, badge progression, and contact workouts are all about making your dreams a reality with NBA 2K22. Not only can you envision yourself as a WNBA player, you can actually become a WNBA Legend. We can’t wait for you to experience all it has to offer, including new, exclusive clothing, signature animations, and other awesome rewards. Follow along with NBA 2K22 on our social platforms to stay updated on all the latest news!

NBA 2K22 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles will be released on September 10. For more information, please visit the NBA 2K22 official site.