The WNBA-leading Las Vegas Aces clinched the Western Conference spot in the Commissioner's Cup championship game Wednesday with their 92-84 victory at Dallas.
The Commissioner's Cup, which began last year, will be played July 26 and consists of each of the WNBA's 12 teams having 10 games against conference foes designated as Cup games. The title game is then contested between the East and West leaders in the Cup standings.
Las Vegas is 8-0 in Cup play and 12-2 overall. Chicago is 7-0 in Cup standings to lead the Eastern Conference.
Last year, Seattle beat Connecticut in the inaugural Cup game, held at Phoenix. This year, the game will be played at the site of the team with the highest winning percentage in Cup play. Players will compete for a $500,000 prize pool in the title game, with members of the winning team earning in excess of $30,000 per player and the runners-up $10,000 per player.
"I do love that there's extra incentive for the players," Aces coach Becky Hammon said of the Commissioner's Cup. "Anytime the league can throw a little bit of extra cash the players' way, I'm all for it."
There is a charitable incentive, too: For each Cup regular-season game, the WNBA donates $2,000 to the winning team's organization and $500 to the losing team's.
For the championship game, the donation will be $10,000 for the winning team's organization and $5,000 to the organization of the runner-up.