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The WNBA unveiled its 2025 schedule on Monday afternoon. While the opening weekend matchups and key game timings were the headline news, there were some interesting statistics hidden within the release.
Let’s start with the total prize pool. The league announced that the prize pool for the Commissioner’s Cup this season will be $500,000, matching last season’s amount. This figure aligns with the prize money offered in every previous edition of the Cup since its inception in 2021. However, it falls short of the minimum prize pool outlined in the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement.
The CBA, which was ratified in 2020, stipulates that any special competitions or tournaments organized by the WNBA during the regular season must include a minimum aggregate player prize pool of $750,000 for each subsequent season. This means that the current prize pool for the Commissioner’s Cup is $250,000 below the CBA’s requirement.
Originally, the CBA aimed for the WNBA to have multiple competitions throughout the season, but this plan was altered, and only the Commissioner’s Cup has been implemented. The $250,000 that was intended for additional competitions has been redistributed within the league.
In addition to the traditional prize pool, Coinbase, the cryptocurrency marketplace sponsoring the Cup, will provide $120,000 in cryptocurrency as an additional prize. This cryptocurrency prize, distributed by Coinbase, is not included in the official prize pool and will be given directly to the players in the form of Bitcoin.
Receiving payments in cryptocurrency may evoke memories of past challenges in women’s sports. In 2021, NWSL players faced issues after the official crypto brokerage partner filed for bankruptcy, leaving players without access to their earned crypto, as reported by Sportico.
On the bright side, the WNBA’s crypto prize package is expected to provide players with tangible earnings. In previous years, the league donated to charitable organizations based on Cup game performances, with a substantial increase in charitable donations planned for the future.
(Photo of WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert presenting the Commissioner’s Cup trophy: Catalina Fragoso / NBAE via Getty Images)
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