WNBA winner Caitlin Clark criticizes bonus payment system following cup triumph
The WNBA Commissioner's Cup, introduced as a midseason financial incentive, offers a prize pool of $500,000 for the winning team, with each player receiving between $41,700 and $45,454. In contrast, the WNBA Finals prize money is significantly higher, though exact numbers are not disclosed.
In comparison to the NBA, the WNBA Commissioner's Cup prize money is dwarfed. The NBA Finals prize money often runs into the millions, while the NBA's In-Season Tournament, similar to the WNBA Commissioner's Cup, offers a smaller in-season prize pool. The NBA Finals remain the largest payout, with several hundred thousand dollars per player.
The Indiana Fever emerged victorious in the 2025 Commissioner's Cup, defeating the Minnesota Lynx without star player Caitlin Clark. However, the Commissioner's Cup does not count in the WNBA standings, and the WNBA champions receive less money than what is awarded in the Commissioner's Cup.
Caitlin Clark, who jokingly referred to the Commissioner's Cup final as the "Cathy Cup" in a postgame Instagram livestream, criticised the WNBA for the difference in prize money compared to the NBA. The Commissioner's Cup prize pool includes $5,000 for every player on both teams, with the MVP of the final earning an additional $5,000. Sponsor Coinbase adds an additional $120,000 in cryptocurrency to the Commissioner's Cup haul.
WNBA players, including Caitlin Clark, make significantly more money in off-the-court endorsements than their league salary. The average value of WNBA teams in 2025 is up by 180%, with the Valkyries being the most valuable team, valued at $500M.
As the WNBA players negotiate for a new collective bargaining agreement, the gap in prize money between the WNBA and the NBA remains a contentious issue. The Commissioner's Cup, while offering a valuable midseason financial incentive, is a far less lucrative alternative to the WNBA Finals, which in turn is dwarfed by the NBA Finals prize money. This reflects broader differences in pay scales and prize structures between the WNBA and NBA.
| Competition | Prize Money per Player (Approximate) | Additional Bonuses/Notes | |-------------------------------|--------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------| | **WNBA Commissioner's Cup** | $41,700–$45,454 (winning team) | $5,000 MVP bonus + $5,000 crypto per player | | **WNBA Finals** | Much higher (exact amount varies) | Significantly larger bonuses, championship prize| | **NBA In-Season Tournament** | Smaller in-season prize pool | Similar concept to WNBA Cup | | **NBA Finals** | Several hundred thousand per player | Largest payout, multi-million total pool |
The WNBA players, such as Caitlin Clark, are actively advocating for a fairer collective bargaining agreement, with the significantly lower prize money in the WNBA Commissioner's Cup compared to the NBA Finals being a major point of contention. Despite the Commissioner's Cup offering a midseason financial incentive and additional bonuses like cryptocurrency from sponsors, it pales in comparison to the substantial prize money earned in the NBA Finals.
