A Commissioner's Cup trophy was handed out, All-Star starters were revealed, the Liberty made another statement after the Cup, and Caitlin Clark's back injury stayed in the headlines. Here is everything that mattered in the WNBA from June 28 through July 4, 2026.
Week Snapshot
| Story | Why It Mattered |
|---|---|
| Liberty 93, Aces 85 - Commissioner's Cup | New York wins its second Cup title, Stewart earns MVP |
| All-Star starters announced | Fever lead all teams with three starters |
| Stewart powers Liberty past Lynx | 36 points in a 99-86 win over Minnesota |
| Lynx hit a rough patch | Minnesota still owns one of the league's best records, but dropped two games |
| Caitlin Clark back injury | Indiana waits on its star guard while trying to keep its offense rolling |
Commissioner's Cup: Liberty Win Again
The New York Liberty defeated the Las Vegas Aces 93-85 on June 30 at Barclays Center to win the 2026 WNBA Commissioner's Cup title, becoming the first team to win the Cup championship twice.
The storyline walking in was A'ja Wilson's status. She did not play. Jackie Young stepped up and carried the Aces with 31 points, and Las Vegas briefly took the lead early in the fourth quarter before the Liberty pulled away. New York led by as many as 17 in the third quarter, lost that advantage for a moment, and then closed it out.
Breanna Stewart earned Cup MVP honors, and Sabrina Ionescu had a big night alongside her. The Liberty continue to look like the team to beat when the playoffs come around: organized, deep, and with multiple players capable of taking over a game.
For the Aces, losing Wilson changes everything. Las Vegas remains a serious contender when healthy, but they are a different team when their best player is on the bench.
All-Star Starters: Fever Lead the Way
The 2026 WNBA All-Star starters were announced this week, and the Indiana Fever led all teams with three selections: Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell.
Clark is an All-Star for the third straight year. Boston is a three-time All-Star starter. Mitchell, named a starter for the first time, has now made the All-Star team four years running. The Fever's transformation from a rebuilding franchise to one of the league's most visible teams remains one of the better sports stories of this era.
The full starting lineup:
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Paige Bueckers | Dallas Wings |
| Caitlin Clark | Indiana Fever |
| Kelsey Mitchell | Indiana Fever |
| Olivia Miles | Minnesota Lynx |
| A'ja Wilson | Las Vegas Aces |
| Aliyah Boston | Indiana Fever |
| Breanna Stewart | New York Liberty |
| Jessica Shepard | Golden State Valkyries |
| Gabby Williams | Seattle Storm |
| Natasha Howard | Minnesota Lynx |
Two Lynx starters is a reflection of how well Minnesota has played this season, while Jessica Shepard and Gabby Williams add two fresh storylines to the starting group. The All-Star Game is set for July 25 at the United Center in Chicago, with reserves still to be announced.
A'ja Wilson Still Owns the MVP Conversation
Even without the Commissioner's Cup game, A'ja Wilson had a week worth writing about.
Wilson remained one of the league's defining players and an obvious MVP-level presence when healthy. Her absence from the Cup final also showed how much the Aces depend on her. Las Vegas can still beat almost anyone with its full group, but without Wilson, the margin for error gets much smaller.
Lynx Stumble Twice in a Week
Minnesota came into the week with one of the best records in the league and the top spot in plenty of power rankings. The Lynx leave it having dropped two games, including a 99-86 loss to the Liberty in which Breanna Stewart scored 36 points.
At 15-5, the Lynx are still in the WNBA's top tier. But this was a reminder that no lead is safe and no record is permanent. The Liberty look capable of playing at this level every night. Minnesota needs to get healthier and sharper before the postseason.
Clark's Back Injury Lingers
Caitlin Clark missed time this week with a back injury, the kind of news that sends Fever fans immediately to worst-case scenarios. The good news: she is not expected to miss significant time, and Indiana still found enough offense to stay competitive while managing the uncertainty.
Clark and the Fever should be fine if this stays short term. But it is worth watching as the schedule gets more demanding heading toward the All-Star break.
The Bigger Picture
The Commissioner's Cup is done. The All-Star starters are set. The second half of the regular season is approaching. The Liberty look like a championship favorite, the Lynx remain right in the mix, and the Fever have enough star power to become a problem if Clark is healthy for the stretch run.
The All-Star Game is July 25. Between now and then, the race to the best record in the league is on.
Make your WNBA picks at Crystal Ball Picks.
