Who Will Win The Commissioner's Cup?

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What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today

1. Commissioner’s Cup Tips Off With Big-Time Wins 🏆

The WNBA’s in-season tournament officially got underway on Sunday. Four teams— the New York Liberty, Phoenix Mercury, Las Vegas Aces, and Minnesota Lynx—all opened Commissioner’s Cup play with wins, putting them in early control of their conference standings. (WNBA)

WHY IT MATTERS: The Commissioner’s Cup is a mini-tournament embedded into the regular season. It happens early, but the stakes are high. Players on the winning team could walk away with up to $45,000 each (plus crypto incentives). With only 5–6 games per team to earn a spot in the championship game, every result matters.

Still unclear how the Commissioner’s Cup works? 👉 Read our simple guide to the 2025 Commissioner’s Cup

2. Can Caitlin Clark Drive $1 Billion in Economic Impact? 💰

A new study from Dr. Ryan Brewer, an associate finance professor at Indiana University Columbus, takes a deep look at Caitlin Clark’s financial influence—and the numbers are jaw-dropping. Brewer estimates Clark generated $36 million for Indianapolis last year and was responsible for more than a quarter of the WNBA’s total economic activity. (NBC News)

WHY IT MATTERS: Brewer believes Clark’s full impact on the WNBA could reach $1 billion this year—between ticket sales, media value, merchandise, sponsorships, and more. While she’s not doing it alone, Clark’s star power in just her second year is clearly accelerating the W’s momentum. Her impact, along with other stars of the league, could propel the W on a path of significant growth for years to come.

3. Dallas Moves Forward With New Facility—Kind Of 🏗️

Good news and bad news in Texas. The Dallas City Council has approved $5.5 million toward designing the Dallas Wings’ new training facility. The project, expected to cost up to $54 million, is scheduled to open in April 2026. However, the team’s planned move to play in the renovated Memorial Auditorium has been delayed until 2027 due to construction setbacks. (CBS Sports)

WHY IT MATTERS: As elite facilities become a baseline expectation for WNBA teams, Dallas is stepping up—sort of. The city’s investment signals progress, but the tight timeline could threaten both the new facility and the arena move if the project experiences additional construction setbacks. Still, if executed well, the upgraded infrastructure could help the Wings attract top-tier talent in next off-season’s high stakes free agency period and build long-term success.