This is a refreshing change as the cadence of the Commissioner Cup games was, at times, confusing. The tournament will now happen for two weeks in June with the title game happening on June 25. We already know some of the changes, as the league announced an all-new format this past week. After seeing the success of the IST, I hope the WNBA makes some changes to improve their version. The success of the Cup inspired the NBA to create its own version with the In-Season Tournament (IST). Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports Commissioner’s Cup greatnessĭon’t call it a comeback, the Commissioner’s Cup has been here for years! Noa Dalzell A’ja Wilson celebrates during the 2023 WNBA season. Marine Johannès, for example, who became a fan-favorite for the Liberty last year, was making this amount, a salary that is well-below New York City’s average yearly salary.

As it currently stands, the league’s minimum salary is $62,285, a number I’d love to see grow in the future. The media will play a critical role in continuing to spotlight and promote the W, and my hope is that, as that continues to happen, revenue will continue to rise and player salaries will increase. On the All the Smoke podcast last week, A’ja Wilson spoke on how so many players have to play overseas in the offseason to make a living, and that she hopes their stories can better be told. The WNBA Finals-a matchup between the New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces-also enjoyed record ticket sales. Attendance was also up 16 percent for the 2023 season, compared to the previous year.

In 2023, the league enjoyed its most-watched regular season in 21 years, with its viewership up by 21 percent from the 2022 season. My wish for the WNBA is a future where the league and its players receive fair financial compensation for their work and are respected for their accomplishments in their own right-compared to one another rather than their male counterparts.Īs the longest-running women’s professional sports league in the US, the WNBA has grown tremendously over its 27 seasons, and, in particular, in recent years. From super teams to a 10,000-point scorer to the first back-to-back champions since 2002, the WNBA blessed us with excitement in 2023.

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