Commissioner's Cup 2026

Prior to the tip-off to the Commissioner’s Cup, I wrote that this stretch of games typically revealed which teams we should expect to see make deep runs in the postseason, and which teams could even potentially make it to the WNBA Finals. 
We’ve seen that in recent seasons, with the Minnesota Lynx making a deep run in 2025 following a Commissioner’s Cup championship game appearance, with the New York Liberty and Lynx clashing on Long Island in 2024, just to meet again in the Finals, and with the Liberty and Las Vegas Aces duking it out in 2023, which was just a warm-up to their impending Finals series against one another. 
We’re seeing that same formula be tested this year, with the Liberty and Aces headed to the championship game following a long stretch of Cup games throughout June. Both teams have been red-hot for the month, which could be because of the extra motivation added by the Cup and its incentives, or simply because these are two teams constructed to contend now. 
There was plenty to take away from this chunk of June contests that meant a little more than a regular season stretch, and we’ll be diving into five main points drawn from this stretch of the year. 
Stats were pulled prior to June 18 from the <a href="http://wnba.com">WNBA.com</a> stats page.
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<h2>We’re Doing This Again</h2>
<div id="attachment_263949" style="width: 910px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-263949" class="wp-image-263949" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/GettyImages-2176243063-4-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/GettyImages-2176243063-4-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/GettyImages-2176243063-4-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/GettyImages-2176243063-4-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/GettyImages-2176243063-4-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/GettyImages-2176243063-4-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/GettyImages-2176243063-4-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" />A&#8217;ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces and Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty</div>
No, you’re not reading a headline from 2023 — the Liberty and Aces are clashing, again, in the Commissioner’s Cup Championship. It feels impossible to have underestimated either teams’ ability to turn things up a notch this month, but to be fair, they had some legitimate competition from the Atlanta Dream and Lynx, respectively. 
Despite injuries, New York is suddenly back atop the Eastern Conference with an undefeated stretch during Cup games (6-0). Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones have been steadying forces for the starting lineup, while Satou Sabally has found her groove off the bench for the team. Convincing victories over the Dream and Indiana Fever have landed New York as the host of this year’s Western Conference Cup representative, the Aces. 
Las Vegas has been on the opposite spectrum to begin the year. A’ja Wilson is once again piecing together another MVP-caliber season, and guards Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray have held down their offense following a slight slump from Young to start the season. Toppling this year’s Lynx squad during Cup play was the kind of win that went to show that they’re still the team to beat in the league. 
Las Vegas and New York have not played against one another this season. This is going to be a battle of the frontcourts and the benches, with the Aces guard room a ton more experienced than the Liberty’s at the moment, barring Sabrina Ionescu, of course. This game could live and die at the three point line if Wilson-Na’Lyssa Smith and Stewart-Jones are contained. 
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<h2>Dream on Cusp of Finals Run </h2>
While the Liberty, Lynx, and Aces have been unbelievably impressive to begin this season, the Atlanta Dream have felt like a bit of an afterthought. This, despite much improved play from Rhyne Howard, consistently great play from Allisha Gray, and an obviously wonderful fit for Angel Reese in head coach Karl Smesko’s system. 
This, coupled with a defensive stalwart like Nia Coffey in tow and a very solid rookie in Madina Okot, has bolstered the Dream from just a postseason contender to one you have to worry about getting into the Finals, if you’re any of the three teams mentioned at the start of this section. 
Over the month of June, Atlanta has averaged 90.8 points per game (4th), 35.1 percent from three point range (5th), and they carry an 11.9 net rating along with a 104 defensive rating. Unfortunately, they couldn’t get a win over the Liberty for some cushioning in the Eastern Conference for the Cup, but they’re clearly beginning to figure things out on the offensive end. 
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<h2>Valkyries Continue Shining Behind Two-Way Stars</h2>
<div id="attachment_263952" style="width: 910px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-263952" class="wp-image-263952" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/GettyImages-2282135497-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="608" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/GettyImages-2282135497-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/GettyImages-2282135497-300x203.jpg 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/GettyImages-2282135497-1024x691.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/GettyImages-2282135497-768x518.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/GettyImages-2282135497-1536x1037.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/GettyImages-2282135497-2048x1382.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" />Gabby Williams #1 of the Golden State Valkyries</div>
Gabby Williams and Veronica Burton have not gotten enough love this season for their two-way dominance for Golden State. Williams is averaging nearly two steals per game, while both she and Burton are hitting threes at an above average clip at the same time. However, with the same fate as Atlanta &#8211; unable to defeat the Lynx or Aces in key Cup matchups &#8211; they lost the opportunity to represent the Western Conference without very wacky results falling in their favor. But, fans in “Balhalla” have to feel good about how well Williams has settled into her role for the Valkyries, as they continue to play methodical basketball with Burton controlling the floor. 
Their lack of consistent rebounding and therefore second chance scoring opportunities continues to shrink the floor just a bit for them on offense, but their defense will continue to keep them in games against powerhouses like the Lynx and Aces in the future. 
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<h2>Bottom 3 Teams&#8217; Struggles Continue</h2>
In the same way that the Cup is an indicator of good things to come for the teams that dominate during its stretch of June, you can also find some sleepers ready to awaken in the middle of the WNBA season through these contests. The Indiana Fever were injury ravaged last season headed into Cup play, and still won the Eastern Conference and the championship. 
That same magic just hasn’t existed for the Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, or Seattle Storm. The three teams are also at the bottom of the standings overall, but landed out of the Cup quite quickly into the tournament. Chicago, who looked like they could be a solid squad following their re-signing of Azura Stevens, their trade for Rickea Jackson, and their landing Skylar Diggins, have started to look a lot like the team we saw in 2025 &#8211; a tanking one, with little direction. They’ve gone from a team that dominates the glass and points in the paint to one that is struggling to find offense just about anywhere, currently averaging just 82.2 points per game. 
The Sun are in a similar boat. One year out from their move to Houston, and they aren’t looking much improved upon their rough 2025 season. Connecticut has gotten some great sparks out of Diamond Miller, second year player Aneesah Morrow, and veteran center Brittney Griner, but they’re lacking consistency on all fronts. 
As for Seattle, we knew headed into this season that this was going to essentially be a feel out year. The franchise is set for the future &#8211; Awa Fam, Flau’Jae Johnson, and Dominique Malonga is quite the young trio to have in tow and ready to develop under head coach Sonia Raman, and they have some great vets on the team like Natisha Hiedeman, Stef Dolson, and Jade Melbourne leading them, as well. 
But, all three of these franchises are clearly off on the wrong foot to begin 2026, and that carried over seamlessly into Cup play. 
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<h2>Dallas, Los Angeles Benefit Most from Cup Games</h2>
The Dallas Wings might not have anticipated that Jessica Shepard, and not Alanna Smith, would be their most coveted frontcourt get from free agency this past season. But, Shepard is tallying up double-doubles and showing off her facilitation skills in addition to her scoring capabilities in the paint for Dallas. That’s opening things wide open for Paige Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale, and rookie Azzi Fudd. In June, and despite barely missing out on the Western Conference clinch, the team is averaging 38.5 rebounds per game, 23.3 assists per game, and are toting a 96.7 defensive rating. Their offense, especially from three point range, remains their largest struggle. But, their paint scoring and defensive prowess is keeping them in contention against the rest of the west. 
As for the Sparks, they’re beginning to figure things out in June. Kelsey Plum remains their best bailout option on offense, although it’s tough to ask her to give you over 40 points per game for the rest of the season. Los Angeles has to see meaningful, consistent contributions from the rest of their roster in order to remain afloat in the standings. Nneka Ogwumike and Dearica Hamby are Plum’s best bets for assistance on that front.

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Rapid Reactions: 2026 Commissioner's Cup Tournament

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WILD ENDING: Golden State Valkyries vs. Dallas Wings (06/17/2026)

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Golden State Valkyries Top Plays vs. Dallas Wings

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Gabby Williams Points Leader in Golden State Valkyries vs. Dallas Wings - Top Points

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Gabby Williams Points Leader in Golden State Valkyries vs. Los Angeles Sparks - Top Points

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WILD ENDING: Seattle Storm vs. Golden State Valkyries 06/12/2026

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WILD ENDING: Golden State Valkyries vs. Phoenix Mercury (06/09/2026)

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Golden State Valkyries Top Plays vs. Phoenix Mercury

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Gabby Williams Points Leader in Golden State Valkyries vs. Phoenix Mercury - Top Points

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Golden State Valkyries Top Plays vs. Las Vegas Aces

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Gabby Williams

QUICK FACTS 
<ul>
<li>Signed multi-year contract with Golden State on April 12.</li>
<li>WNBA All-Star (2025), WNBA All-Defensive First Team (2025), WNBA All-Defensive Second Team (2022)</li>
<li>2× EuroLeague champion (2022, 2026), EuroLeague final four MVP (2022), 3× EuroLeague Defensive Player of the Year (2021, 2025, 2026), FIBA Europe SuperCup Women champion and SuperCup MVP (2024)</li>
<li>Alain Gilles Trophy (2024) -annual basketball award that is given to the French basketball player (male or female)</li>
<li>Averaged career highs in points (11.6), assists (4.2), steals (2.3) and free throw percentage (85.3) for Seattle in 2025, and her 2.3 steals per game led the entire league while her 99 total steals topped the WNBA.</li>
<li>30 10+point games last season, including four 20-point performances.</li>
<li>Represented France at the 2020 (bronze) and 2024 (silver) Olympic Games.</li>
<li>A two-time All-American and AAC Defensive Player of the Year with Connecticut.</li>
<li>Won back-to-back NCAA Championships with the Huskies (2015 &amp; 2016)</li>
<li>One of only nine Huskies with at least 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.</li>
<li>Drafted 4th overall by Chicago in the 2018 WNBA Draft.</li>
</ul>
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
<ul>
<li>Drafted No. 4 overall by Chicago in 2018 WNBA Draft</li>
<li>2022 WNBA All-Defensive Second Team</li>
<li>2x Olympic Medalist with France (2024 Silver; 2020 Bronze)</li>
</ul>
 
2024 (SEATTLE): Appeared in 12 games for Seattle after signing as a free agent on Aug. 20 following participating in the 2024 Paris Olympics…averaged career-best 10.3 points per game, adding 4.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game…scored in double-figures in seven games…averaged 13.4 points while shooting 56.3% from the field and 40.9% from three-point range over final eight games of regular season…scored season high 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting, adding six rebounds, four steals and three assists against Los Angeles (Sept. 15)…tallied 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting against New York (Sept. 5) including scoring her 1,000th career point…matched that total with 17 points two games later, adding a season-high two blocks and three steals against Los Angeles (Sept. 11)…averaged 17.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game in two playoff games…scored playoff-career-high 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting in Game Two of first round series against Las Vegas (Sept. 24)…had 14 points, eight rebounds, and two assists in Game One (Sept. 22).
 
2023 (SEATTLE): Signed as a restricted free agent with Seattle on July 3, missing the first half of the season due to an injury suffered while playing overseas…appeared in 10 games before suffering season-ending foot injury on Aug. 8…averaged 8.4 points, 3.8 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 10 games…scored season-high 17 points along with six rebounds, four assists and a block against Chicago (July 28)…had 14 points with six assists, with four steals and two blocks against Phoenix (Aug. 5)…also recorded 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting with four assists and three steals against Indiana (July 30)&#8230;pulled down 500th career rebound on July 25 against New York.
 
2022 (SEATTLE): Traded to Seattle from Los Angeles on Feb. 3…started all 36, averaging 7.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.5 steals per game…named to WNBA All-Defensive Second Team for first time in career…tallied career-highs with 111 assists and 13 blocks, nearly missing career-high with 54 steals…scored season-high 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting while adding nine rebounds and three assists at New York (June 19)…had 21 points on 7-of-9 shooting including 2-of-3 from three-point range, adding seven rebounds and three assists against Chicago (Aug. 9)…had season-high 10 rebounds and added eight assists against Minnesota (June 14)…recorded season-best nine assists against Dallas (June 10)…played in 100th career game on June 7 against Atlanta…dished out 250th career assist on July 28 at Connecticut…averaged 10.0 points 4.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.5 steals in four playoff games…missed first two games of semifinal series against Las Vegas after suffering a concussion in final game of first-round series against Washington.
 
2021 (LOS ANGELES): Traded from Chicago to LA on May 9, but did not play during the 2021 season due to commitment with the French National Team.
2020 (CHICAGO): Appeared in 22 games, making four starts…averaged 7.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.3 steals…scored in double-figures in seven games…scored season-high 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting against Indiana (Aug. 31)…opened the season by scoring 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting while pulling down seven rebounds against Las Vegas (July 26)…tallied 16 points with season-high nine rebounds while adding four assists and two steals against Washington (Aug. 1)…scored 12 points and added four steals on her birthday against Atlanta (Sept. 9)…scored 16 points with five rebounds, two assists and two steals in lone playoff game against Connecticut (Sept. 15).
 
2019 (CHICAGO): Appeared in 33 games, making two starts…averaged 5.6 points, 2.2 rebounds 2.1 assists, and 0.7 steals in 15.9 minutes per game…opened season with 11 points and four assists against Minnesota (May 25)…scored season-high 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting and added four rebounds against Washington (June 5)…matched season-best with 12 points on 6-of-11 shooting against Minnesota (July 10)…closed out season with 11 points, three steals and a block against Washington (Sept. 8).
 
2018 (CHICAGO): Drafted No. 4 overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2018 WNBA Draft…appeared in 34 games, making 30 starts…averaged 7.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.7 steals…led WNBA rookies in steals (second overall in WNBA) and ranked fourth in rebounds, sixth in assists, eighth in scoring among rookie class…scored in double-figures in 10 games…made first WNBA start and tallied first career points on May 19 against Indiana…tallied first double-digit scoring game with 12 points while adding three steals against New York (May 20)…scored career-high 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting against Phoenix (June 8)…scored 12 points and added eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block against Washington (June 22)…matched that with 12 points and eight rebounds against Phoenix (June 24)…pulled down season-high 10 rebounds and had season-best two blocks against Las Vegas (June 3)…matched her season-high of 10 boards against Los Angeles (June 10).
 
OVERSEAS:
<ul>
<li>2024-25: Fenerbahçe (Turkey)
<ul>
<li>2024 EuroCup Champion, EuroCup MVP</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>2022-24: ASVEL (France)
<ul>
<li>2023 EuroCup Champion</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>2020-22: Sopron Basket (Hungary)
<ul>
<li>2022 &#8211; helped Sopron to its first-ever Euroleague title…named Euroleague Finals MVP with 16 pts, 4 reb and 4 stl in the championship game…averaged 13.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, and 3.8 apg in Euroleague play</li>
<li>2021 – EuroLeague Defensive Player of the Year and All-EuroLeague First Team</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>2019-20: Basket Lattes Montpellier Agglomeration (France)</li>
<li>2018-19: Dike Napoli (Italy)
<ul>
<li>2019 Liga Dia Champion</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
 
INTERNATIONAL: Represents France in international competition…Made Olympic debut in 2020 Tokyo Games (played in 2021), helping France finish with a bronze medal…averaged 10.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists in six games…scored 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting including 4-of-5 from three-point range with eight rebounds and four assists in bronze medal game against Serbia…led France to silver medal at 2024 Paris Olympics as the home side nearly pulled off monumental upset of the USA, falling 67-66…named Paris 2024 Best Defensive Player and All-Star Five…averaged 15.5 points, 4.8 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.8 steals in six games, scoring at least 12 points in each game…scored 19 points and added seven rebounds, three steals and two assists in gold medal final…had 14 points, seven assists, six steals, and five rebounds in win over Nigeria&#8230;averaged 16.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.7 steals while shooting 60% from three-point range to lead France to a perfect 3-0 record in Olympic Qualifying tournament in China.
COLLEGE (UConn):
[SENIOR SEASON, 2017-18] Started all 36 games during senior season in 2017-18…2018 Cheryl Miller Award winner (best small forward in NCAA)…averaged 11.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game…WBCA, AP, and USBWA Second-Team All-American…lead team with 191 assists and 87 steals…finished career with 1,582 points, 1,007 rebounds, 482 assists, 305 steals, and 103 blocks with UConn posting a 148-3 overall record during her four seasons.
[JUNIOR SEASON, 2016-17] Started all 37 games as a junior in 2016-17…WBCA National Defensive Player of the Year…WBCA and USBWA First-Team All-American…AP Second-Team All-American…AAC First Team and Defensive Player of the Year…All-NCAA Tournament Team…NCAA All-Bridgeport Regional Team…averaged 14.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game…ranked third in AAC in field goal percentage (58.1%)…led team in assists with 190 becoming first post player to do so…scored in double-figures in 30 games including 20+ points in five games…recorded fifth triple-double in UConn history vs East Carolina (Jan. 24, 2017).
[SOPHOMORE SEASON, 2015-16] Part of UConn’s 38-0 National Championship team as a junior in 2015-16…played in all 38 games as a junior, making 12 starts…averaged 8.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.3 assists…opened the season with back-to-back double-doubles including a 10-point, 11-reboun performance against No. 7 Ohio State in season opener…scored in double-figures in 15 games…led the team shooting 63.6% from the field.
[FRESHMAN SEASON, 2014-15] Appeared 38 games as a true freshman…AAC Sixth Player of the Year and All-Freshman Team…selected as AAC Freshman of the Week three times…averaged 8.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game…shot team-high 63.7% from the field…scored in double-figures 19 times including 13 double-figure scoring games that came in 20-minutes of playing time or less…a career-high 16 boards in only 22-minutes in the win at SMU (Jan. 11)…scored 15 points on 7-of-7 shooting with six rebounds in 14 minutes in NCAA debut at UC Davis (Nov. 14)…scored season-high 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting with 14 rebounds against Cincinnati (Feb. 3).

Gabby Williams signed a Contract with the Golden State Valkyries.

Scores 25 points in win

Picking up momentum

Scores 19 points in win

Drops 25 points in victory

Bounces back against Las Vegas

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