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WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Kicks Off with Exciting Matchups
The Commissioner’s Cup, the WNBA’s mid-season tournament, officially kicked off this past Sunday. For those who may need a refresh, the Commissioner’s Cup was introduced in 2020 as part of the latest Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and the players’ union. The goal was to give players more opportunities to earn additional income while fostering conference-based storylines and potential rivalries, especially since the WNBA playoffs do not consider conference standings.
Due to the global pandemic that impacted the world in 2020, the Cup did not officially debut until 2021, when the Seattle Storm triumphed over the Connecticut Sun with a score of 79-57. The format for the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup involves each team playing one game against every team in their respective conference. The team with the highest winning percentage then advances to the Commissioner’s Cup Final. With the inclusion of the Golden State Valkyries as the WNBA’s 13th franchise, Western Conference teams will now participate in six Cup games instead of five. The schedule will also feature a balanced distribution of three home and three away Cup games for these teams. Conversely, some Eastern Conference teams will have fewer games and fewer home games; for instance, the Atlanta Dream will contest three of their five Cup matches on the road, while the Indiana Fever will play three at home.
In the case of a tie after all Cup games have been played, the WNBA has established three tiers of tiebreakers. The initial tiebreaker is based on the average point differential across all Cup games, which the league monitors. The second tiebreaker considers head-to-head matchups; for example, if the Minnesota Lynx and Las Vegas Aces have identical winning percentages but the Lynx secured a victory against the Aces in a previous Cup game, the Lynx would win the tiebreaker and advance to the Final. If a tie still exists, a coin flip serves as the final tiebreaker, which has not yet been required in the Cup’s four-season history.
Another unique aspect of the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup is that each team pairs up with a local charitable organization of their choosing. Each victory in the Commissioner’s Cup translates into monetary donations awarded to these charities. For this season, various franchises have opted to support local ACLU branches, while others have chosen organizations addressing youth criminalization, mass incarceration, women’s health issues, and hate speech. Charities will receive $3,000 for every Cup win and $1,000 for each Cup loss. Additionally, the winner of the Cup Final will be granted an extra $10,000 for their charity, while the runner-up’s charity will receive $5,000, along with any funds accrued from previous Cup matchups.
Looking Ahead at the Upcoming Matchups
The teams making it to the finale, set for July 1, will play at the location of the team with the highest winning percentage, competing for a grand prize of $500,000 alongside $120,000 in cryptocurrency, where each player in the Commissioner’s Cup Final stands to receive $5,000.
Last week saw some early victories in the Commissioner’s Cup, with the Minnesota Lynx, Las Vegas Aces, Phoenix Mercury, and New York Liberty claiming wins, including a historic 100-52 rout by the Liberty against the Sun. jili 50 vip As of Tuesday night, teams like the Washington Mystics, Fever, and the Dallas Wings are gearing up to commence their Cup matches, while the Dream and the Sky will kick off their games later in the week. Currently, the Dream are on a four-game winning streak, closely following the unbeaten starts of the Liberty and Lynx niceph club. On the other hand, the Los Angeles Sparks, Seattle Storm, and Fever are experiencing three-game losing streaks.
The month of June has seen an influx of hardship contracts as teams navigate unforeseen injuries phbet casino. Several matchups to keep an eye on this week are all part of the Commissioner’s Cup, and games running through June 17 will carry that designation.
Key Upcoming Matchups in the Commissioner’s Cup
**Washington Mystics @ Indiana Fever** (Tuesday, June 3 at 7 p.m. ET on NBA TV) – The Fever have felt the absence of star guard Caitlin Clark in their last two games, both of which they lost. In their previous matchup against the Mystics, the Fever registered zero fast break points, missing Clark’s explosive play. With veteran guard Aari McDonald now on board through an emergency hardship contract, how will her integration impact the team?
**Phoenix Mercury @ Minnesota Lynx** (Tuesday, June 3 at 8 p.m slot 50 minimum deposit philippines. ET on ESPN3) – After narrowly losing to the Lynx in their last encounter, the Mercury seek redemption on the road. With MVP frontrunner Napheesa Collier back in the lineup, how will the Mercury adjust their defense to cope with her presence?
**Atlanta Dream @ Connecticut Sun** (Friday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ION) – Following a humiliating defeat to the Liberty, how will the Sun rebound against the high-scoring Dream, who rank third in offensive production and love to shoot from beyond the arc?
**Las Vegas Aces @ Golden State Valkyries** (Saturday, June 7 at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN+) – After an impressive comeback from a rough start, the Aces face the Valkyries. This match is particularly intriguing as Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase goes against her former team. How will her insider knowledge of the Aces play a role in her team’s performance?
**Indiana Fever @ Chicago Sky** (Saturday, June 7 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS) – Even without Clark, how will Chicago leverage their strengths against a struggling Fever squad? This game has the potential to be a critical juncture for both teams.
As the Commissioner’s Cup unfolds, which team do you think will emerge as the ultimate champion?
