How Does the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Work? Format, Schedule Explained

The WNBA will crown its 2026 Commissioner’s Cup winner on Tuesday, June 30 when the New York Liberty host the Las Vegas Aces in the tournament’s championship game.

The winner will represent the sixth year of the tournament’s history. What's transpired up to this point, how does the WNBA Commissioner's Cup work, and what does emerging with a victory mean for Tuesday night's participants?

Below, we'll break down the format of the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final and how the tournament has unfolded in its recent past.

Make your WNBA Commissioner's Cup Final picks and predictions on PrizePicks now.

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When Is the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game?

The 2026 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Championship is set to take place on Tuesday, June 30 at 7:00 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on Prime Video. 

It's the only WNBA game for the evening, followed by a day off to begin July and a three-game Thursday slate on July 2.

How Does the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Work?

The WNBA Commissioner’s Cup was originally scheduled to begin in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed its inaugural edition until 2021. It provides a brief preview of what the WNBA playoff field could look like when the postseason begins in late September.

The Commissioner’s Cup featured a 49-game schedule that began on June 1 and ran through June 17. It pitted the Eastern and Western Conference's top teams against one another. Each team played the other squads from its conference in pool play, with the two clubs owning the best pool records — one from each conference — moving on to the championship.

The WNBA makes charitable donations to nonprofit organizations that are selected by each franchise. The donations will be awarded to each team following the Commissioner’s Cup final.

In addition, the Commissioner’s Cup champions receive a $500,000 prize pool distributed across the team’s roster. Winning players get $30,000 apiece, whereas losers still receive $10,000. Tuesday's MVP gets to add another $10,000 to the mix.

Make your picks for Liberty vs. Aces on PrizePicks prior to Tuesday's game.

Past WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Champions

The WNBA Commissioner’s Cup has crowned a different champion in all five installments of the in-season tournament. For the first time in league history, there will be a two-time winner since the Aces and Liberty have both reached the mountaintop before.

The Indiana Fever won the 2025 installment of the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup when they beat the Minnesota Lynx. F Natasha Howard poured in 16 points on 4-of-10 shooting and secured 12 rebounds in the Fever’s victory.

Here’s a look at which team has captured the 2026 Commissioner’s Cup in each of the past five seasons.

• 2021: Seattle Storm (defeated Connecticut Sun 79-57)
• 2022: Las Vegas Aces (defeated Chicago Sky 93-83)
• 2023: New York Liberty (defeated Las Vegas Aces 82-63)
• 2024: Minnesota Lynx (defeated New York Liberty 94-89)
• 2025: Indiana Fever (defeated Minnesota Lynx 74-59)

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Make WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Picks on PrizePicks

The sixth installment of the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game is scheduled for Tuesday, June 30. When the Liberty hosts the Aces, both teams will be vying for their second Commissioner’s Cup championship in franchise history.

Don’t wait until tip-off — make your Aces vs. Liberty picks on PrizePicks now and earn real money if you’re right.

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