Liberty Face Aces in $500,000 Commissioner’s Cup Final as New York Enters on 1-4 Slide
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 30
Liberty Face Aces in $500,000 Commissioner’s Cup Final as New York Enters on 1-4 Slide
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 30
Summary
New York and Las Vegas meet Tuesday night in the Commissioner’s Cup final, with the winner taking a $500,000 team prize and becoming the tournament’s first repeat champion.
The matchup arrives at a shaky moment for the Liberty, who are 1-4 in their last five games, scored a season-low 67 points in their latest loss and will be without Satou Sabally because of concussion protocol.
Las Vegas enters in stronger form at 14-5, though A’ja Wilson’s status remains a watch point after a right leg injury; New York still beat the Aces on their home floor one week ago.
Nine of the 10 previous Cup finalists later reached the WNBA semifinals, giving the in-season title a track record as a meaningful indicator beyond the one-night trophy game.
The final also lands amid wider league scrutiny of officiating after an early-season foul spike and several recent missed calls, including the play that led to Alyssa Thomas’ one-game suspension.