Throughout most of the year, WNBA meetings hold little significance, but during the 17 days in June, they become crucial as teams compete for cash prizes amounting to about a third of their season’s salary cap. The fifth WNBA Commissioners Cup will conclude on Sunday with four games setting up the stage for the Cup Championship on July 1st. The Minnesota Lynx, reigning champions, aim to extend their legacy beyond a brief period of dominance.
While the right to brag is appealing, the financial rewards are the true focus. Lynx guard Natisha Hiedman highlighted this ahead of the 2024 title game in New York. The Cup originated from the 2020 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), created to increase player earnings through special competitions. Its 2021 debut was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The winning team splits a $500,000 prize pool, significant given the 2025 hard salary cap of $1.5 million, with player Supermax contracts around $250,000. Winning the tournament can allow rookies or min-contract veterans to earn up to half their base salary. Since last year, Bitcoin has also offered $5,000 in cryptocurrency to each player in the Championship Game, totaling $120,000.
In-season tournaments, common in European leagues, aim to renew old rivalries diminished by postseason format changes. Since 2016, the league seeded the top eight teams by winning percentage regardless of conference, proving to be a strong indicator for finals contenders.
Here’s how the Commissioners Cup functions: Each team plays one game against every other team in its conference—five games for the Eastern Conference and six for the Western, which includes the new Golden State team. All 36 cup games occur from June 1st to 17th under a streamlined format introduced last year. These games count towards regular season records, adding extra stakes early in the season.
The top team from each conference by record meets in the Cup Championship Game on July 1st. Tiebreakers start with head-to-head records, followed by average point difference per game, with coin flips as a last resort. The higher seed hosts the championship.
The Cup title offers more than money—it previews potential finals matchups. For instance, the 2024 Cup featured the Lynx vs. Liberty. However, only one Cup winner to date (2022 Chicago Sky) has also secured the WNBA title that year, highlighting that Cup success doesn’t guarantee postseason glory.
Looking at the Eastern Conference, the New York Liberty are favored, showing strong net ratings and shooting efficiency, boosted by point guard Natasha Cloud. The Atlanta Dream and Indiana Fever are challengers, though each faces challenges like missing key players. The Washington Mystics could shake things up but will need to limit losses to stay competitive.
Key Eastern games to watch include Liberty vs. Fever on June 14th and Dream vs. Liberty on June 17th.
In the Western Conference, the Minnesota Lynx are favorites with key players like Kayla McBride and MVP-candidate Napheesa Collier leading the charge. Phoenix Mercury and Seattle Storm are challengers relying heavily on defense and standout rookies. Las Vegas Aces and Golden State Warriors struggle with defensive issues and consistency.
Must-watch Western games include Mercury vs. Lynx on June 3rd and Lynx vs. Storm on June 11th.
Fan Take: The Commissioners Cup injects fresh excitement and meaningful stakes early in the WNBA season, offering players substantial financial incentives and fans competitive, high-stakes games. This innovative format not only boosts player earnings but also helps build storylines and rivalries that could elevate the league’s profile and fan engagement moving forward.
