Las Vegas Aces Secure Spot in 2024 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Championship
The Las Vegas Aces officially clinched a berth in the 2024 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup championship game by defeating the Phoenix Mercury 86-76 on Wednesday night. With this victory, the Aces secured the best record in the Western Conference for the tournament, setting up a title clash against the Eastern Conference representative, the New York Liberty, on June 25 at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.
How the Aces Advanced to the Final
Las Vegas finished their Commissioner’s Cup qualifying schedule with a dominant 5-0 record, according to official WNBA standings. The Wednesday night win over the Mercury served as the final hurdle to cement their place at the top of the Western Conference table. The Commissioner’s Cup is a mid-season competition where specific regular-season games count toward a separate tournament standings board. By winning all five of their designated “Cup” games, the Aces bypassed tie-breaker scenarios and earned the right to defend their league standing in the championship game.
The Path to the Championship: A Comparison
The upcoming final represents a rematch of the 2023 WNBA Finals, pitting the two most successful franchises of the current era against each other. The New York Liberty, who finished the qualifying period with an identical 5-0 record in the Eastern Conference, will host the game.
| Team | Cup Qualifying Record | Conference |
|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas Aces | 5-0 | Western |
| New York Liberty | 5-0 | Eastern |
Why This Matchup Matters
This championship game carries significant weight beyond the trophy. According to the WNBA league office, the event features a total prize pool of $500,000, with additional funds donated to charitable organizations chosen by the competing teams. For the Aces, this appearance marks their third trip to the Commissioner’s Cup final in the tournament’s four-year history. Head coach Becky Hammon has emphasized the importance of high-stakes mid-season games in preparing the roster for the intensity of the playoff stretch later in the calendar.
What Happens Next
The championship game is scheduled for June 25 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Fans can watch the broadcast on Prime Video, which maintains the exclusive rights for the tournament final. Following the Cup game, both the Aces and the Liberty will resume their standard WNBA regular-season schedules, where league-wide standings determine playoff seeding for the post-season tournament beginning in September.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Commissioner’s Cup? It is a mid-season tournament within the WNBA season. Games designated as “Cup games” count toward both the regular-season standings and the separate tournament standings.
- How is the winner determined? The team with the best record in each conference after the designated qualifying games meets in a single-elimination championship game.
- Who won last year’s Cup? The New York Liberty won the 2023 Commissioner’s Cup by defeating the Las Vegas Aces 82-63.
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