What Is the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup? Your 2025 Fan Guide

The WNBA’s in-season tournament is back for its fifth year, and if you’re a newer fan or just haven’t quite wrapped your head around how it all works, you’re not alone.

The Commissioner’s Cup is the league’s way of turning part of the regular season into something even bigger: a mini-championship within the season that gives players more to compete for, and shines a spotlight on the league’s community impact.

So if you notice teams playing with a different black/white ball or heard talk about “Cup standings” and wondered what’s going on, we’ve got you.

Here’s your complete guide to the 2025 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup, including how it works, what’s at stake, and how you can watch it all unfold.

📅 Key Dates: When It All Happens

This year’s Commissioner’s Cup kicks off on June 1 and wraps up on July 1, with a packed slate of games in between.

During the first stretch of the tournament (June 1–17), each team plays a series of special “Cup games” that count toward both their regular season record and their Cup standing. It’s fast and intense—just five or six qualifying games per team over 17 days.

Then, the two best teams (one from each conference) meet in the championship game on July 1. That final showdown will be hosted by whichever of the two finalists had the best overall record in Cup play.

🤔 How the Commissioner’s Cup Works

The Commissioner’s Cup isn’t a standalone tournament. It’s fully embedded into the season. Here’s how:

Each team plays a set of designated Cup games against opponents from within their own conference. Teams in the Eastern Conference (which has six teams total) each play five Cup games. Teams in the Western Conference, now made up of seven teams with the addition of the Golden State Valkyries, each play six Cup games.

For example, the Liberty will face every other Eastern Conference team once in Cup play. The Lynx, meanwhile, will play each of the other six Western Conference teams once.

The results of those Cup games determine the Cup standings, and the top team from each conference advances to the championship.

It’s essentially a battle to see which team can go 5–0, 6–0, or close to it, to secure a spot in the final. A slow start or a couple of missed matchups can knock a team out of the running fast.

While these games count in the regular season standings, there’s an added layer of urgency. Fortunately for fans, the WNBA makes these games easy to spot: the league uses a special black and white basketball with rose gold details for all Commissioner’s Cup games. So when you see it on the court, you’ll know you’re watching one that matters a little more.

💰 What’s at Stake?

This isn’t just for bragging rights: there’s real money on the line.

The winning team splits a $500,000 prize pool, which breaks down to roughly $30,000–$45,000 per player, depending on roster size. That’s a meaningful bonus, especially in a league where max salaries are still under $250K.

And that’s not all. Sponsor Coinbase is also kicking in an additional $120,000 in cryptocurrency, with players in the championship game earning $5,000 in crypto each just for making it.

There’s also a special bonus for the game’s Most Valuable Player, though the exact payout isn’t publicly disclosed.

But maybe the most meaningful part? Each team designates a local nonprofit organization focused on civic engagement or social justice, and the Commissioner’s Cup results help determine the donation amount that each nonprofit receives. So every game has ripple effects that go beyond the court.

🏆 A Quick Look at Past Winners

So far, no team has repeated as Commissioner’s Cup champion. Here’s who won each of the four previous seasons:

• 2021: Seattle Storm beat the Connecticut Sun

• 2022: Las Vegas Aces defeated the Chicago Sky

• 2023: New York Liberty took down the Aces

• 2024: Minnesota Lynx emerged victorious over the Liberty

Will 2025 bring our first repeat winner—or add a new name to the Cup legacy?

📺 How to Watch

All Commissioner’s Cup games are part of the regular WNBA broadcast package, so you’ll find them on League Pass, ESPN networks, and select games on ION and CBS Sports Network depending on the schedule.

Look for the black-and-white ball with rose gold trim if you want to catch the next Cup game. It’s your visual cue that the stakes are higher.

And don’t worry about keeping track on your own: the league has a dedicated Cup standings page on its site, or you can just follow along with us at 30 Second Timeout. We’ll break down what you need to know.

🗳️ Fan Poll: Who’s Taking the Cup in 2025?

We’re running a quick fan poll—who do you think is bringing home the Commissioner’s Cup this season?

Make your pick and see how your answer stacks up against the rest of the 30 Second Timeout community.

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