New York got it done last night, taking down Las Vegas 93-86 in Tuesday’s Aces vs Liberty showdown, becoming the league’s first two-time WNBA Commissioner’s Cup champion.
With Aces superstar A’ja Wilson sidelined, Liberty vets Sabrina Ionescu and Cup MVP Breanna Stewart combined for 51 of New York’s 93 points.
“I’m just really proud of the mindset and the mentality of this team,” Stewart said. “We were going to do whatever it took to get this win.”
Ionescu provided the spark New York needed, after the recently returned guard hit a dagger 3-pointer to seal the win with 15.7 seconds left.
“She’s too good,” Aces head coach Becky Hammon said of Ionescu. “I don’t know if anybody's noticed in this crowd, [but] she likes big moments and big shots.”
“I’ve always continued to have that belief in myself,” said Ionescu. “An injury or two is not going to diminish my understanding of who I am, and the work that I’ve put in to get to where I’m at today.”
Both teams feature in Friday’s ION double-header, as New York hosts league-leader Minnesota at 7:30 PM, before Las Vegas faces Chicago at 10 PM ET.
The winner-takes-all 2026 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final is here, as New York battles Las Vegas to become the in-season tournament’s first-ever two-time winner.
With forward Satou Sabally (concussion) sidelined, the Liberty enters on a two-game losing streak. They rattled off road defeats to Seattle and Golden State after besting Las Vegas last week.
The Aces bounced back from Tuesday’s loss with confident wins over Dallas and Chicago. However, they could be facing a major blow, after listing superstar A’ja Wilson (right leg) as “questionable” as of early this morning.
Las Vegas won the inaugural 2022 Commissioner’s Cup, one year before New York beat the Aces to lift the 2023 trophy.
The winning team splits a $500,000 purse — about $30,000 per player — while the Liberty already raised $18,000 for the African American Policy Forum and Las Vegas earned $19,000 for the Public Education Foundation.
“It’s going to be a great battle,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said. “I know Barclays is going to be rocking.”
The WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final tips off at 7 PM ET, live on Prime.
New York lost 76-67 to Golden State on Sunday, dropping the Liberty vs Valkyries matchup at Chase Center.
The defeat is New York's fourth in five games, a skid that has raised real questions about a team still trying to build chemistry under first-year coach Chris DeMarco.
Golden State Bench Shines in Liberty vs Valkyries win
Golden State pulled away with a surge late in the second quarter, taking a 12-point lead into halftime. New York scored just 29 points before the break, its lowest first-half output of 2026. The gap eventually stretched to 22.
Forward Jonquel Jones was a bright spot for New York, leading the Liberty with 21 points, while veteran Breanna Stewart added 15. But Sabrina Ionescu went scoreless through the first two quarters, finishing with just nine points on 3-of-10 shooting as she continues her comeback after an early-season injury.
Golden State's reserves, meanwhile, outpaced New York's bench 39-11. Veronica Burton anchored the second unit with eight points, eight assists, and six rebounds.
Jones, Stewart Demand More Ahead of WNBA Commissioner's Cup Final
Stewart spoke bluntly about her team's performance after the game.
"You can't play with heart and play with effort just when things are going good," she said. "It's really the moments when you're at the lowest."
Those sentiments echoed comments Jones made last week following the Liberty's loss to the Seattle Storm. "It's not about the reps, it's not about playing time, it's not about none of that stuff. It's about having some heart and playing with some f***ing heart," Jones said on Thursday.
Now 12-8 and fifth in the WNBA standings, the Liberty need to turn things around quickly. They face the Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday in the Commissioner's Cup final. That game airs at 7 PM ET, live on Prime.
New York came out on top last night, as the No. 4 Liberty downed the No. 3 Aces 87-76 in a sneak peek of next week’s Liberty vs Aces WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final.
New York’s Sabrina Ionescu registered a season-best 16 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists as she continues her return from injury.
“I’m just better and better every day,” she said postgame. “My body’s feeling better, getting back into the rhythm of playing competitive basketball.”
The Liberty is now a half-game behind Las Vegas in the WNBA standings, relying on depth and superstar power to shake off two tight losses.
Two-time MVP Breanna Stewart and four-time MVP A’ja Wilson squared off in the matchup, as Stewart edged her frontcourt counterpart with 20 points and six rebounds to Wilson’s 16 points and nine rebounds.
“We’ve kind of been going back and forth and going at it for years now,” Stewart said of Wilson. “Anytime we do it, we know it’s a big moment.”
Both teams return tomorrow at 10 PM ET, as the Aces face the Wings (NBA TV) while New York takes on Seattle (WNBA League Pass).
The WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final gets a trial run tonight, as the No. 2 Aces welcome the No. 5 Liberty to Las Vegas just one week before the Aces vs Liberty 2026 championship battle.
The Aces are hot off Sunday’s 92-73 blowout win over No. 7 Golden State, as Jackie Young averages 19.1 points in her last 10 games while WNBA scoring leader A’ja Wilson shoots 52.7% from the field.
New York is looking to curb a two-game skid. The Liberty fell to No. 9 LA in Sunday’s 98-97 buzzer-beater days after Friday’s 86-83 loss to No. 8 Washington snapped an eight-game winning streak.
Both teams have gone 8-2 across their last 10 games. They’re also entering their first meeting of the year averaging just under 90 points per game.
Injuries could make an impact, as Las Vegas remains without Dana Evans and Janiah Barker. However, Chennedy Carter (illness) is listed as questionable.
“I have to check in with her,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said Sunday, addressing Carter’s availability. “I think she might be ready to go. We’ll see how she’s feeling.”
Where to Watch Tonight's Aces vs Liberty WNBA Game
New York visits Las Vegas tonight at 10 PM ET, live on USA.
The Golden State Valkyries shut down Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers, taking the 91-80 WNBACommissioner's Cup victory in Wednesday's Wings vs Valkyries game.
Bueckers finished with 15 points on 5-of-13 shooting as rookie guard Azzi Fudd also suffered shooting struggles. She finished the night with just 10 points on 4-of-13 from the field.
Golden State's physical defense disrupted the rhythm of both Dallas playmakers throughout the game.
Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd Stats Slump in Wings vs Valkyries Loss
The WNBA Commissioner's Cup clash turned physical late, as Bueckers and Valkyries guard Veronica Burton collided while diving for a loose ball. Burton — a former Wings WNBA draft pick — answered with an all-around performance, recording 11 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
Beyond limiting Paige Bueckers, Golden State also benefited from Dallas going cold from deep. The Wings could not find their range behind the arc, particularly during a rough second quarter. Azzi Fudd in particular faced a 3-point skid, going 2-5 on the night.
The WNBA Commissioner's Cup result extends Golden State's winning streak while leaving Dallas searching for consistency.
Without reliable outside shooting to complement Bueckers, the Wings face a familiar problem heading into their next stretch of regular-season WNBA games. They face the Chicago Sky on Saturday at 8 PM ET, live on CBS.
The WNBA Commissioner's Cup final is locked, as New York and Las Vegas punched tickets to the tournament championship on a combined 12-1 record.
The Liberty ran the Eastern table, finishing undefeated with a conference-best +68 point differential behind forward Breanna Stewart’s 21.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, and three assists per game — including a 30-point outing against Indiana.
The Aces edged Minnesota for the Western berth after last night’s 86-76 finale win over Phoenix, as A’ja Wilson capped a dominant Cup run with a 33-point, 10-rebound double-double.
Hosted by the team with the highest point differential, the Commissioner’s Cup final delivers a $500,000 prize pool, with winning players earning $30,000 each while losers walk with $10,000.
“Obviously, I like winning games… There’s a bit of money on the line — I love that,” said Aces coach Becky Hammon. “The league and the people probably want to see New York vs Vegas, so I think it’s good for the fans… It’s going to be a great battle.”
Where to Watch the 2026 WNBA Commissioner's Cup Game
New York hosts Last Vegas on June 30th at 7 PM ET, live on Prime.
A'ja Wilson scored 33 points and pulled down 11 rebounds in Wednesday night's Aces vs Mercury clash, as Las Vegas beat Phoenix 86-76.
She also added five steals and two blocks, becoming the only player in WNBA history to record those numbers in a single game. The win clinched Las Vegas's spot in the WNBA Commissioner's Cup championship game.
Aces Deliver Defensive Masterclass Against Mercury
Wilson carried the offense, but the Aces won the battle against the Mercury on the defensive end. Las Vegas racked up 18 steals, tying the league high in a single game this season.
Jackie Young led the perimeter effort with five steals while also scoring 20 points, while NaLyssa Smith added 21 points off the bench. Together, the pressure forced Phoenix into turnover after turnover and prevented the Mercury from finding any rhythm.
A'ja Wilson Clinches Commissioner's Cup Final for Las Vegas
A'ja Wilson and the Aces will next face the New York Liberty on June 30th at Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the Commissioner's Cup title.
The meeting marks Las Vegas's third appearance in the championship game. No team has won the Cup twice since the annual in-season tournament began in 2021.
The Minnesota Lynx is hunting another Commissioner’s Cup title, sitting neck-and-neck with the Las Vegas Aces atop the Western Conference table ahead of tonight’s final slate.
The Lynx blew out Portland to pull level with the Aces on a 5-1 Cup record — but it’ll take both a win over LA and Las Vegas losing to the Mercury to punch a ticket to the tournament final.
“We were locked in, as we should have been,” said Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said after Monday’s victory. “Trying to win a home game and trying to stay in the hunt in the Commissioner’s Cup.”
If the Lynx dispatch the Sparks, they’ll be banking on an upset in Phoenix and a quiet night for No. 3 Dallas to book a third consecutive Cup final.
The Mercury has struggled since thumping the Aces 99-66 to open the season, carrying a three-game losing streak into tonight’s Commissioner’s Cup finale.
“There’s definitely urgency,” said Phoenix head coach Nate Tibbetts. “We know that we need to be playing better. But at the same time, you’ve got to have patience.”
Where to Watch Tonight's WNBA Commissioner's Cup Games
Both games tip off at 10 PM tonight, as Minnesota takes on LA (WNBA League Pass) while Las Vegas faces Phoenix (USA).
Caitlin Clark completed 14 assists and scored 21 points as the Indiana Fever routed the Toronto Tempo 113-91 on Tuesday night. The win extended Indiana's streak to four straight while setting a franchise record for points in regulation.
Caitlin Clark Sees Record-Setting Night Against Toronto
Caitlin Clark controlled the pace from the opening tip.
She recorded nine assists in the first half alone, then kept feeding teammates through the fourth quarter.
Along the way, she became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 250 points and 100 assists in a single season, hitting the mark in just 13 games.
But Clark was far from the only Fever player producing.
Sophie Cunningham, Kelsey Mitchell Fuel Fever's Score
Kelsey Mitchell led all scorers with 27 points on 9-of-11 shooting. Off the bench, Sophie Cunningham added 24 points and tied her career high with six three-pointers.
Indiana shot 52% from the field overall and connected on 13-of-30 attempts from beyond the arc. The Fever also went 28-of-33 from the free-throw line.
The result wraps up Indiana's Commissioner's Cup schedule at 5-1. With the offense in rhythm, the Fever carry real momentum into the next stretch of the season.
The Fever's next WNBA comes against the Atlanta Dream on Thursday at 7:30 PM ET, live on Prime.