WNBA Commissioner’s Cup, explained: Format, schedule, standings and more to know about league's tournament

Sara Tidwell

WNBA Commissioner’s Cup, explained: Format, schedule, standings and more to know about league's tournament image

The WNBA kicked off its regular season and the annual Commissioner's Cup challenge in mid-May.

The first Commissioner's Cup Trophy was won by the Seattle Storm in 2021, and last year's prize was handed to the Las Vegas Aces.

This in-season tournament has nothing to do with the actual playoffs, unlike the NBA's Play-In Tournament. It is held for entertainment and charitable purposes.

Here's everything you need to know about the Commissioner's Cup.

MORE: Full list of starters for 2023 WNBA All-Star Game

How does the WNBA Commissioner's Cup work?

The Commissioner's Cup is a relatively new part of the WNBA calendar, as it has now existed for just three seasons. The in-season competition, which pits conference rivals against each other, is presented by Coinbase.

Last year, the league added another platform that allowed teams to provide funding to local non-profits. (You can find the full list of non-profits here.) Following each Commissioner's Cup game, the WNBA donated $2,000 to the winning team's organization and $500 to the losing team's organization.

Again, the Commissioner's Cup is held during the regular season. The Eastern and Western Conference teams with the highest winning percentages will battle it out for the title and a $500,000 prize.

When does the WNBA Commissioner's Cup start?

The Commissioner's Cup actually started on May 19, which also marked the start of the 2023 regular season. The last set of Commissioner's Cup games will be played on July 12.

The championship game will be played on Aug. 15.

MORE: Watch Ion TV WNBA games on Fubo (free trial)

WNBA Commissioner's Cup Standings

(As of July 12)

Eastern Conference

Seed Team Record Games Back
1. New York Liberty 7-3
2. Connecticut Sun 7-3
3. Atlanta Dream 6-4 1
4. Washington Mystics 5-5 2
5. Chicago Sky 3-7 4
6. Indiana Fever 2-8 5

Western Conference

Seed Team Record Games Back
1. Las Vegas Aces 9-1
2. Dallas Wings 6-4 3
3. Minnesota Lynx 5-5 4
4. Los Angeles Sparks 5-5 4
5. Seattle Storm 4-6 5
6. Phoenix Mercury 1-9 8

WNBA Commissioner's Cup schedule of results 2023

Results
Connecticut Sun 70, Indiana Fever 61
Washington Mystics 80, New York Liberty 64
Los Angeles Sparks 94, Phoenix Mercury 71
Las Vegas Aces 105, Seattle Storm 64
Connecticut Sun 80, Washington Mystics 74
New York Liberty 90, Indiana Fever 73
Connecticut Sun 88, Washington Mystics 81
Las Vegas Aces 94, Los Angeles Sparks 85
Phoenix Mercury 90, Minnesota Lynx 81
Washington Mystics 71, Chicago Sky 69
Dallas Wings 95, Seattle Storm 91
New York Liberty 81, Connecticut Sun 65
Las Vegas Aces 93, Los Angeles Sparks 65
Indiana Fever 90, Atlanta Dream 87
Las Vegas Aces 94, Minnesota Lynx 73
Atlanta Dream 83, Chicago Sky 65
Connecticut Sun 81, Indiana Fever 78
Dallas Wings 94, Minnesota Lynx 89
New York Liberty 77, Chicago Sky 76
Los Angeles Sparks 99, Phoenix Mercury 93
Los Angeles Sparks 92, Seattle Storm 85
Chicago Sky 86, New York Liberty 82
Chicago Sky 108, Indiana Fever 103
Seattle Storm 66, Los Angeles Sparks 63
Dallas Wings 84, Phoenix Mercury 79
New York Liberty 106, Atlanta Dream 83
Connecticut Sun 89, Atlanta Dream 77
Minnesota Lynx 91, Los Angeles Sparks 86
Indiana Fever 87, Washington Mystics 66
Atlanta Dream 86, New York Liberty 79
Seattle Storm 83, Phoenix Mercury 69
Los Angeles Sparks 79, Dallas Wings 61
Atlanta Dream 92, Connecticut Sun 88
Las Vegas Aces 96, Seattle Storm 63
Minnesota Lynx 77, Los Angeles Sparks 72
Seattle Storm 109, Dallas Wings 103
Washington Mystics 77, Chicago Sky 69
Atlanta Dream 100, Indiana Fever 94
Las Vegas Aces 99, Phoenix Mercury 79
Los Angeles Sparks 76, Dallas Wings 74
Seattle Storm 97, Phoenix Mercury 74
Connecticut Sun 96, Chicago Sky 72
New York Liberty 89, Washington Mystics 88
New York Liberty 89, Connecticut Sun 81
Minnesota Lynx 104, Seattle Storm 93
Dallas Wings 77, Phoenix Mercury 62
Washington Mystics 109, Atlanta Dream 86
Minnesota Lynx 99, Seattle Storm 97
Atlanta Dream 94, Washington Mystics 89
Chicago Sky 89, Indiana Fever 87
Las Vegas Aces 89, Dallas Wings 82
Washington Mystics 96, Indiana Fever 88
Atlanta Dream 82, Chicago Sky 68
Dallas Wings 80, Las Vegas Aces 78
Minnesota Lynx 75, Phoenix Mercury 64
Las Vegas Aces 113, Minnesota Lynx 89
Las Vegas Aces 98, Phoenix Mercury 72
New York Liberty 95, Indiana Fever 87
Connecticut Sun 84, Chicago Sky 72
Dallas Wings 107, Minnesota Lynx 67

          Sara Tidwell

          Sara Tidwell Photo

          Sara Tidwell is an editorial intern with The Sporting News. A native to Michigan's Thumb region, she received her Bachelor's degree in journalism from Michigan State University. Previous bylines include the Detroit News, Cincinnati Enquirer, Hartford Courant and The State News.