By Johanna-Rosalye Luna
NEW YORK, NY – The WNBA unveiled a new format for its in-season Commissioner’s Cup presented by Coinbase last month, ditching the previous spread-out schedule for a concentrated, two-week tournament in June.
Effective with the 2024 season, each team will play five Commissioner’s Cup games, one against each of their in-conference rivals, during a designated period from June 1-13. All regular-season games during this stretch will be considered “Cup qualifying” and count towards the team’s overall record.
” After crowning three Commissioner’s Cup champions since 2021, we believe it is time to introduce a new, streamlined format for the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup presented by Coinbase for the 2024 season,” ” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. ” ]The newly designed, concentrated structure for this in-season tournament adds an increased sense of urgency and excitement,” the Engelbert added.
The team from each conference with the best record in Commissioner’s Cup games will compete for a $500,000 prize pool in the championship game on June 25, hosted by the team with the overall best Cup record. The league will also continue its tradition of donating to social justice organizations aligned with players’ initiatives, using proceeds from the Cup.
This streamlined format replaces the previous system where 60 games across the season were designated as Commissioner’s Cup games. The top teams from each conference, based on winning percentage in those “Cup games,” previously advanced to the championship.
Past winners of the Commissioner’s Cup include the Seattle Storm (2021), Las Vegas Aces (2022), and most recently, the New York Liberty (2023). With the new format, fans can expect a more focused and intense battle for early-season bragging rights and a significant cash prize.
Highlights of the new format:
- Concentrated two-week schedule: All Commissioner’s Cup games held from June 1-13.
- Five Cup games per team: One against each in-conference rival, counting towards regular-season record.
- $500,000 championship prize pool: Top teams from each conference compete for the grand prize.
- Continued charitable involvement: Donations to social justice organizations aligned with players’ initiatives.
Discover more from En Breve News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
