WNBA Commissioner’s Cup: Winners, Prize, History, Rules and Selection Process for Elite Women’s Basketball Competition
The WNBA Commissioner’s Cup is a mid-season tournament that provides motivation to players for a title and also has socio-economic benefits. While the champion is decided on single-game performance, the qualification scenario includes various stages and rules to reach the final game. Launched in 2021, this mid-season trophy has rapidly evolved into a highlight of the WNBA calendar. With four different winners in the previous four editions, the tournament has evolved as an unpredictable and exciting one in the league. Here is a comprehensive, descriptive dive into its history, structure, champions, and enduring significance.
History of MEga Tournament
The Commissioner’s Cup was conceptualized in 2020 as an in-season tournament seamlessly integrated into the regular WNBA schedule. Its inaugural edition, planned for 2020, was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, in 2021, the WNBA launched the competition, marking a pivotal moment in women’s sports innovation.
From day one, the league’s objective was to add competitive incentive, spotlight early-season rivalries, and give back to communities through philanthropic efforts. With Coinbase as primary sponsor from 2022 onward, the event was rechristened the Commissioner’s Cup presented by Coinbase.
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WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Format Overhaul & Qualification Mechanics
The inaugural format (2021–23) designated 10 intraconference games (home and away matches vs. the 5 other teams) as Cup fixtures. However, in 2024, a refined, condensed model emerged,
- Two-week window (June 1–13)
- Each team plays one game against each conference opponent (five matchups).
- These Cup games are part of the regular season games schedule.
- Teams alternate having three home Cup games one season, two the next.
- Starting in 2025, with 13 teams, the Eastern Conference plays 5 Cup games; Western Conference teams play 6, reflecting the addition of the Golden State Valkyries.
Top Eastern and Western teams advance, with tiebreakers determining the finalists. For the host of the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final game, the team with the better overall season record through the Cup window.
Qualification & Tiebreakers
At the end of Cup play, the top team from each conference advances to the championship game. While the teams in the final are decided on various scenarios,
- If teams are tied, tiebreakers apply in this order:
- Head-to-head Cup record
- Point differential in Cup games
- Total Cup game points
- Overall conference winning percentage
- Coin flip
Home court for the final goes to the finalist with the better overall season win percentage (not just Cup performance). If tied, the same tiebreaking criteria apply.
WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Winners and MVP Recipients
The WNBA Commissioner’s Cup started in 2021, with the Seattle Storm crowned as the winners. Behind Breanna Stewart’s performance, the Seattle side managed to outperform the Connecticut Sun franchise at Footprint Arena.
The second season saw two different finalists, with the in-form Chicago Sky taking on the powerful Las Vegas Aces at the Wintrust Arena. Guard Chelsea Grey shined in the star-studded Aces lineup, helping the side win the Commissioner’s Cup, which they later followed with the WNBA Championship.
| Season | Game | Score | Winners | MVP |
| 2021 | Storm vs Sun | 79-57 | Seattle Storm | Breanna Stewart |
| 2022 | Aces vs Sky | 93-83 | Las Vegas Aces | Chelsea Gray |
| 2023 | Liberty vs Aces | 82-63 | New York Liberty | Jonquel Jones |
| 2024 | Lynx vs Liberty | 94-89 | Minnesota Lynx | Napheesa Collier |
The third edition of the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup was a one-sided encounter with the New York Liberty side facing the defending champions Aces, at Michelob ULTRA Arena. Center Jonquel Jones was dominant in the game, helping her side to clinch the title with an 82-63 score. The Liberty delivered their first Cup triumph.
The side once again advanced to the final in the next edition with the Minnesota Lynx as their next opponents. But Napheesa Collier was in great touch and in MVP discussions for a reason. Behind the forward’s clinical performance, the Lynx won a close game 94-89 at the USB Arena, cementing themselves as the top side in the season. Both sides even faced each other in the 2024 WNBA Finals, where the Liberty emerged victorious.
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WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Prize Structure & Incentives
The Commissioner’s Cup rewards teams and players both monetarily and socially. The total prize pool is $500,000 and is split among teams in the Cup final. Winners earn around $30,000 per player while the runners-up receive approximately $10,000. The Cup MVP garners a $5,000 bonus. Along with this, there are Cryptocurrency bonuses with Amazon’s sponsor, Coinbase. The total bonus contributes $120,000 total and each player in the final earns $5,000 in crypto.
Apart from these prizes, there are charitable donations via the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup. Each team selects a nonprofit to support and sends bonuses after wins and even a smaller gift after a loss. The winner’s charity is around 10K while the runner-up’s selected organization receives $5K.
The Cup adds competitive gravity to early-season conference matchups, elevating them beyond ordinary games. Moreover, by tying wins to social causes, the Cup extends the players’ influence courtside into impactful work courtside. The competitive games and cup incentive also brought in more eyeballs, with Broadcasting partnerships (Prime Video, Amazon) growing.
With each year, the Commissioner’s Cup finals bring dramatic matchups, MVP performances, and deep community impact—from Seattle’s ward-bracing performance in 2021 to Minnesota’s spirited triumph in 2024. As the Cup continues to weave together sport, spectacle, and society, it stands as a pioneering model for what in-season competition can achieve.
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