2025 WNBA Commissioner's Cup: Full guide to schedule, format, how to watch, and prize details

The 2025 WNBA season is already in full swing, and with it comes one of the league's most exciting in-season events, the Commissioner's Cup, now returning for its fifth consecutive year.

The competition brings added stakes to early-season matchups, featuring a blend of high-intensity basketball, conference rivalries, and a substantial prize pool.

What is the Commissioner’s Cup?

The Commissioner’s Cup, presented by Coinbase, is an in-season tournament that runs within the WNBA regular season. Its structure is designed to amplify early-season competition by turning select intraconference games into Cup-qualifying matchups.

These games not only count toward the Commissioner’s Cup standings but also toward each team’s official WNBA record.36 total games will be played across the Cup window.The tournament spans Sunday, June 1 to Tuesday, June 17, 2025.Each team plays only intraconference opponents during Cup play.Eastern Conference teams (6 in total) each play 5 games.Western Conference teams (7 in total) each play 6 games.Game locations are pre-balanced:Eastern teams will play either three games at home and two away, or two at home and three away.

Western teams will each play three home games and three away games.The two teams with the best Commissioner’s Cup records in each conference will meet in the Championship Game for the title, prize money, and bragging rights.

Prize pool & crypto bonus

At the heart of the Commissioner's Cup is a $500,000 prize pool, a significant incentive for players and teams. The WNBA has continued its partnership with Coinbase, which adds a cryptocurrency component to the mix:Coinbase will contribute an additional $120,000 in cryptocurrency to the pool.This includes a guaranteed $5,000 in crypto for each player participating in the championship game.These earnings are on top of any contractual salaries and bonuses players may already receive, and they underscore the league’s push to reward in-season performance meaningfully.

Championship game details

The 2025 Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game will be held on:Date: Tuesday, July 1, 2025Host: The team with the best winning percentage in Cup playStakes: A combined $500,000 cash and $120,000 in cryptocurrencyThe game serves as the final showdown between the top team from the Eastern Conference and the top team from the Western Conference, based solely on their performance during the Commissioner’s Cup schedule (not the overall league standings).

Recap: What happened last year?

In 2024, the Minnesota Lynx emerged as the Commissioner’s Cup champions, defeating the New York Liberty in the title game. However, the Liberty would later turn the tables by beating the Lynx in the 2024 WNBA Finals, showing just how competitive and unpredictable the league has become.That narrative has only heightened expectations for the 2025 edition. With parity across both conferences and young talent emerging throughout the league, the title is truly up for grabs.

How to watch: Full broadcast and streaming breakdown

Coverage of the 2025 Commissioner’s Cup will span multiple broadcast partners, ensuring fans across the U.S. (and internationally via WNBA League Pass) can follow the action live.

TV Channels:

Live Streaming Options:

Amazon Prime Video (exclusive for some games)

Note: Certain games are exclusive to individual platforms like Prime or ESPN3, so viewers are encouraged to check local and digital listings to ensure access to specific matchups.

Full 2025 WNBA Commissioner's Cup game schedule

Commissioner's Cup action will start on Sunday, June 1, and end on Tuesday, June 17. The championship game will be played on Tuesday, July 1.You can see the full schedule for the Commissioner's Cup below.Note: All times in Eastern Time (ET)

(Table: WNBA)