The 2025 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Championship is set to deliver more than just on-court drama. While the Indiana Fever and Minnesota Lynx prepare to battle for the Cup today Tuesday, July 1, at the Target Center, one player is poised to walk away with more than just a win.
This in-season championship is not only a chance for players to showcase their skills in a high-stakes matchup but also an opportunity to collect a meaningful financial reward.
For the most outstanding performer on the floor, the Commissioner’s Cup MVP award carries with it a $5,000 bonus, separate from the player’s team winnings. In a league where salary disparities are often discussed, this added incentive can significantly impact a player’s earnings for the season.
A closer look at the prize pool and crypto bonus
In addition to the MVP payout, players on the winning team will receive $30,000 each, while members of the runner-up team will take home $10,000. That puts the potential MVP’s total haul at $35,000 if their team wins the Cup. But the earnings don’t stop there. Thanks to a sponsorship with Coinbase, every player on both rosters will also receive $5,000 worth of cryptocurrency, further sweetening the pot.
This prize distribution has become a staple of the Commissioner’s Cup and serves as a rare opportunity in professional women’s basketball for athletes to earn substantial bonuses midseason.
For players like Caitlin Clark, who has emerged as one of the sport’s brightest stars, the Cup and its rewards could boost annual earnings by over 50 percent, depending on performance. As Front Office Sports highlighted, Clark’s salary plus prize earnings could reshape her financial year entirely if she and the Fever win and if she claims the MVP title.
This structure isn’t new but has steadily gained more attention with the rise in popularity of the league. Previous winners of the MVP bonus, such as Breanna Stewart in 2022 and Napheesa Collier in 2024, each earned the same $5,000 award in addition to their team prizes. The tradition reinforces the value of individual excellence in a team setting while shining a spotlight on the league’s best performers.
The crypto addition, however, is a more recent twist and remains somewhat controversial. While players are guaranteed the $5,000 value, some experts caution athletes to prioritize cash over volatile digital assets.
In the WNBA, where even top-tier players earn significantly less than their counterparts in the NBA, the Commissioner’s Cup format has provided an opportunity to narrow that gap. It also allows athletes to build their personal brands in nationally televised games, which could translate to endorsement deals and increased visibility in the long run.
The MVP prize isn’t just a monetary bonus; it represents a player’s ability to rise to the occasion when it matters most. For fans, it adds a new layer of excitement to the Cup, knowing that a standout performance might define both a game and a career.
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