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2024 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Tips Off With Refreshed Format

2023 Commissioner's Cup champions New York Liberty celebrate the win
The 2023 Cup champions New York Liberty are looking for the repeat. (Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Commissioner's Cup returns to the WNBA for a fourth season this month, and it arrives with a slightly new look.

The 2023 champion New York Liberty got their repeat quest off to a comfortable start on Sunday with a 104-68 win over Indiana. Joining them are Connecticut, Phoenix and Minnesota who have all gotten off to winning starts, while Indiana is 1-1 in Cup play.

This year’s Cup schedule is slightly condensed, with games taking place from June 1st to the 13th. The final will then be played on June 25th, with the team with the best overall record in Cup play acting as hosts.  

While some things about the tournament remain the same — like all games also counting toward the regular season win-loss record — there have been some changes. Previously, teams played 10 qualifying games, but the new format now has teams playing just five throughout the Cup. And during qualifying games, each team plays against in-conference opponents once.

The WNBA also unveiled a new ball specifically designed for the tournament, described in a statement as "a step forward in making our in-season tournament a distinct and recognizable WNBA tentpole."

Similar to past tournaments, Cup teams will play for a $500,000 prize pool, which amounts to around $45,000 per player. The championship game MVP will also receive a bonus.

Each team will also sponsor a nonprofit organization invested in social justice work, with money set to be donated at the conclusion of the Cup. This new charity component is intended to "highlight civic engagement efforts, with an emphasis on the impact of voting on reproductive health matters within communities of color and the LGBTQ+ community."

While the Liberty are looking to capture back-to-back Cups, achieving a repeat is no easy feat. Last year, the 2022 Commissioner's Cup-winning Aces lost in the championship while Seattle, who won the inaugural Cup in 2021, haven’t been back to the championship since.

Commissioner's Cup schedule

Saturday, June 1st

  • Indiana Fever 71, Chicago Sky 70

Sunday, June 2nd

  • Connecticut Sun 69, Atlanta Dream 50
  • Phoenix Mercury 87, Los Angeles Sparks 68
  • New York Liberty 104, Indiana Fever 68
  • Minnesota Lynx 87, Dallas Wings 76

Tuesday, June 4th

  • Washington Mystics at Connecticut Sun — 7 PM ET on League Pass
  • New York Liberty at Chicago Sky —7 PM ET on NBA TV
  • Phoenix Mercury at Seattle Storm — 10 PM ET on CBS Sports Network

Wednesday, June 5th

  • Las Vegas Aces at Dallas Wings — 8 PM ET on NBA TV
  • Minnesota Lynx at Los Angeles Sparks — 10 PM ET on League Pass

Thursday, June 6th

  • Chicago Sky at Washington Mystics — 7 PM ET on Amazon Prime
  • New York Liberty at Atlanta Dream — 7:30 PM ET on League Pass

Friday, June 7th

  • Indiana Fever at Washington Mystics — 7:30 PM ET on ION
  • Seattle Storm at Las Vegas Aces — 10 PM ET on ION
  • Dallas Wings at Los Angeles Sparks — 10 PM ET on ION
  • Minnesota Lynx at Phoenix Mercury — 10 PM ET on- ION

Saturday, June 8th

  • New York Liberty at Connecticut Sun — 1 PM ET on ABC
  • Atlanta Dream at Chicago Sky — 5 PM ET on NBA TV

Sunday, June 9th

  • Washington Mystics at New York Liberty — 3 PM ET on League Pass
  • Phoenix Mercury at Dallas Wings — 4 PM ET on League Pass
  • Seattle Storm at Minnesota Lynx — 7 PM ET on League Pass
  • Las Vegas Aces at Los Angeles Sparks — 9 PM ET on League Pass

Monday, June 10th

  • Indiana Fever at Connecticut Sun — 7 PM ET on NBA TV

Tuesday, June 11th

  • Washington Mystics at Atlanta Dream — 7:30 PM ET on League Pass
  • Minnesota Lynx at Las Vegas Aces — 10 PM ET on NBA TV
  • Los Angeles Sparks at Seattle Storm — 10 PM ET on League Pass

Wednesday, June 12th

  • Connecticut Sun at Chicago Sky — 7 PM ET on League Pass

Thursday, June 13th

  • Atlanta Dream at Indiana Fever — 7 PM ET on ESPN 3
  • Seattle Storm at Dallas Wings — 7 PM ET on ESPN
  • Las Vegas Aces at Phoenix Mercury — 10 PM ET on Amazon Prime

Lottie Woad Turns Pro Following Near-Win at 2025 Evian Championship

English amateur Lottie Woad plays a shot at the 2025 Evian Championship.
Amateur Lottie Woad finished tied for third at the 2025 Evian Championship. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Amid her historic summer on the links, English amateur and rising Florida State senior Charlotte "Lottie" Woad is officially turning pro, accepting LPGA membership two days after nearly topping the 2025 Evian Championship leaderboard.

One week after becoming the first amateur to win a European Tour tournament since 2022 — with the 21-year-old taking the 2025 Irish Open title by a massive six-stroke margin — Woad came within one stroke of becoming the first amateur to win an LPGA major in 58 years.

Sunday's finale saw world No. 25 Grace Kim emerge as the 2025 Evian Champion, with the Australian taking the title following a playoff with Thailand's No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul.

Both Kim and Thitikul finished the tournament at 14-under-par, while Woad trailed a single stroke behind to tie 2021 Evian winner and Australia's No. 5 Minjee Lee for third-place in the LPGA Grand Slam.

Unlike Lee, who banked $547,200 for her efforts, Woad's amateur status means she had to forgo what would have been her share of the $8 million purse.

"I did have a look after and was like, 'oh no,'" joked Woad about Lee's check.

England's Lottie Woad watches her drive at the 2025 Evian Championship.
Lottie Woad will make her professional debut at the 2025 Scottish Open. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Woad to make pro debut next week

That all changes now, though, as Woad's finish made her the first player eligible to join the LPGA through the governing body's new lite Amateur Pathway (LEAP) program, in which top young golfers amass points to earn pro membership.

While the world's highest-ranking amateur initially said she would take the week to weigh turning pro with returning to Florida State for her final NCAA year, Woad made her decision to turn pro Tuesday morning.

In addition to accepting the LPGA membership, she will also join the European Tour in 2026 — an invite Woad earned with her Irish Open win.

"I have only reached this point in my career through the help and support that I've received from so many people and organisations over many years," Woad wrote in an Instagram post thanking her family and coaches. "I am very excited about this next chapter."

Woad's next chapter is imminent, as the world No. 64 announced her professional debut at the 2025 Scottish Open next week.

The field of established golf pros are already on notice, with Sweden's No. 30 Madelene Sagström warning that "[Woad is] going to take European and American golf by storm very soon."

Young Rosters Clash as LA Sparks Welcome Washington on Tuesday

LA Sparks forward Azurá Stevens celebrates a 2025 WNBA win.
The LA Sparks will face Washington as they look to move up the WNBA standings. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

Tuesday's WNBA tilts feature a season-first clash between two young pro cores, as the No. 11 LA Sparks host the No. 7 Washington Mystics in the teams' last tilt before the 2025 All-Star break.

While Washington is a consistent presence above the playoff line in this season's standings — thanks in large part to the Mystics' two All-Star rookies, Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen — LA is still finding their way.

Led by champion veterans Kelsey Plum and Azurá Stevens, the Sparks' roster includes youthful talent like forward Rickea Jackson and rookie guard Sarah Ashlee Barker, with this month's return of guard Rae Burrell from injury also boosting the young LA lineup.

"She's just the energizer bunny," Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts said of Burrell. "She puts pressure on the defense. I feel like she's getting in a groove."

Even more, the Sparks are eyeing the return of their 2024 No. 2 overall draftee Cameron Brink, with the forward inching close to competitive play just over a year after an ACL tear ended her rookie campaign.

Currently sitting in a lottery position, LA will aim to dig out a win — and some much-needed midseason momentum — in their last game before the All-Star break:

  • No. 7 Washington Mystics vs. No. 11 Los Angeles Sparks, Tuesday at 10 PM ET (WNBA League Pass): Fresh off a Sunday victory over the No. 13 Connecticut Sun, the Sparks will look to claim their first back-to-back home wins this season when they try to upend a Mystics side that's comfortable playing in the clutch.
  • No. 6 Indiana Fever vs. No. 13 Connecticut Sun, Tuesday at 8 PM ET (ESPN): The Fever are on a roll, hoping to tack on a third-straight win as they eye a deep post-All-Star run.

NWSL Teams Take on New Competitors in Summer Friendlies

Palmeiras's Gaby Santos tries to slide tackle Kansas City attacker Michelle Cooper as she dribbles the ball during a 2025 Teal Rising Cup semifinal.
The KC Current defeated Brazil's Palmeiras in their 2025 Teal Rising Cup semifinal. (Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images)

The 2025 NWSL season is on summer international break, but many clubs aren't stopping play, with teams competing in strategic friendlies to test their depth and prowess during the long July window.

Last Tuesday, the Houston Dash hosted Liga MX side CF Monterrey, storming past Las Rayadas 4-0 behind goals from defender Avery Patterson and midfielders Delanie Sheehan, Maggie Graham, and Kiki Van Zanten.

The North Carolina Courage then played Liga MX titans Tigres UANL to a scoreless draw in a weather-shortened match on Wednesday.

On Sunday, Racing Louisville tested new and returning players — including star Bethany Balcer — in a domestic clash with regional USL Super League rivals Lexington SC, with the 1-1 draw serving as the NWSL side's tune-up to The Women's Cup, which kicks off this weekend in Brazil.

Meanwhile in Kansas City, the Current kicked off its inaugural four-team Teal Rising Cup tournament on Saturday, securing a 3-0 win over Brazil Série A1 club Palmeiras thanks in large part to forward Haley Hopkins's first-half brace.

The Current will next play in Tuesday's tournament final against Série A1's Corinthians, a team that defeated the Chicago Stars 1-0 in their Saturday semifinal with a last-gasp stoppage-time goal.

How to watch the Teal Rising Cup finale

The first-ever Teal Rising Cup will conclude on Tuesday, with the Chicago Stars and Palmeiras facing off in the mini-tournament's third-place match at 6 PM ET before the KC Current battles the Corinthians for the trophy at 9 PM ET.

Both matches will stream live on ESPN+.

Boston Legacy FC Plans Performance Center as WNBA Star Aliyah Boston Buys In

A rendering of the performance center being constructed for the NWSL expansion team Boston Legacy FC.
The Legacy intend to move into their exclusive performance center by 2026. (Boston Legacy FC)

Incoming 2026 NWSL expansion team Boston Legacy FC is making big moves, with two key Monday announcements shoring up the club's place in the larger New England sports ecosystem.

Buying into the Legacy on Monday was Indiana Fever center Aliyah Boston, with the 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year investing in the club after playing high school ball at Massachusetts's Worcester Academy.

"I'm proud to join the ownership group of the Boston Legacy. This city helped raise me, and the support I felt here shaped so much of who I am," the three-time WNBA All-Star said in a club statement. "And yes... Boston repping Boston just felt right!"

With her investment, Boston joins a growing roster of current and former WNBA stars buying into the NWSL, including Angel City investor Candace Parker, Bay FC advisor Sabrina Ionescu, and Gotham FC minority owner Sue Bird.

Along with their famous new investor, the Legacy also revealed plans on Monday to construct a privately funded, $27 million purpose-built team performance center in nearby Brockton, Massachusetts.

Slated to open prior to the 2026 preseason, the center boasts a fully outfitted 30,000 square-foot training building, a bubble dome for year-round practice, and six fields of various surfaces — some of which will be available to youth teams in the community.

"Competing at the highest level demands an environment that elevates every aspect of performance — and this new facility is a major step forward in how we support our players every single day," said Legacy controlling owner Jennifer Epstein.

A couple of those incoming players were announced earlier this month, as the Legacy welcomed Bundesliga free agent and midfielder Annie Karich as the team's first signee before inking French Première Ligue forward Aïssata Traoré — the first-ever NWSL player from Mali — late last week.

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