Kristian Ferrell
The Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) is an annual women's college basketball tournament with preseason and postseason versions. It is similar to the men's college National Invitation Tournament (NIT) but is independent and not run by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The WNIT was created in 1994 by Triple Crown Sports, a company that promotes amateur sporting events. The tournament has since expanded, and in 2021, it featured 64 teams. However, starting in 2024, it will return to a 48-team format.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) |
| Organiser | Triple Crown Sports |
| Operated similarly to | Men's college National Invitation Tournament (NIT) and NIT Season Tip-Off |
| Operator | National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) |
| Year started | 1994 (preseason) and 1998 (postseason) |
| Number of teams | 16 (1994-2020), 32 (2021), 48 (2024), 64 (2021-2023) |
| Format | 16 first-round games, 16 second-round games, 8 third-round games, 4 quarterfinal games, 2 semifinal games, and the championship |
| National championship broadcaster | CBS Sports Network |
| Hosting rules | All games are played on the site of the higher bidding team |
| Hosting costs | $6,500 for the first round, $7,500 for the second round |
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What You'll Learn
The 2024 WNBA season
However, starting in 2024, the WNIT tournament will see a few changes. Firstly, the field of teams has been reduced from 64 to 48, with 16 teams earning byes in the first round, while the remaining 32 teams compete. This adjustment brings the WNIT down to the third tier of women's basketball tournaments, as the newly introduced NCAA-run WBIT takes the second tier. The WBIT, or Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament, is a 32-team postseason tournament owned and funded by the NCAA, which will also have its inaugural edition in 2024.
The 2024 WNIT will kick off with its first round on March 20, with the championship game scheduled for Saturday, April 6, at 3 p.m. ET, and will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network. The early rounds will be hosted by the competing schools, with games played on the site of the higher-bidding team as the tournament is a for-profit event. The first two rounds will feature 16 games each, followed by eight third-round games, four quarterfinal games, two semifinal games, and the championship.
The WNIT provides an opportunity for teams from Division I conferences or independent teams to compete. Any team considered for an at-large berth must have an overall record of .500 or better. The tournament also offers automatic bids to regular-season conference champions who don't qualify for the NCAA tournament due to losses in their conference tournament. With these recent changes in tournament structure, the 2024 WNBA season promises to deliver exciting basketball action and offer a platform for up-and-coming women's basketball talent.
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Qualification for the WNBA Commissioner's Cup
The WNBA Commissioner's Cup, or the WNBA Commissioner's Cup Presented by Coinbase for sponsorship reasons, is an annual in-season competition of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The tournament begins at the start of the regular season and continues throughout the first half of the season. The final is played between the top teams from the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference.
The Commissioner's Cup consists of regular-season games designated to count toward Cup play. A total of 60 regular-season contests involving all 12 teams count toward the Cup standings. The team in each conference that has the best record from the Commissioner's Cup Tournament will play in the Commissioner's Cup Championship game. If two or more teams have the same record, a tie-break procedure is used to determine the conference finalist. This procedure includes head-to-head record in the Commissioner's Cup game, higher winning percentage in all conference games played, and random draw.
The winner of the Commissioner's Cup Championship game receives a $500,000 prize pool, with an additional $120,000 in cryptocurrency committed by Coinbase. Each player in the championship game receives $5,000. The Commissioner's Cup also features a platform for the league to make charitable contributions to non-profit organizations aligned with the players' social justice work.
The Commissioner's Cup was originally scheduled to begin in the 2020 WNBA season but was delayed until the 2021 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Coinbase acquired the naming rights to the Cup starting with the 2022 tournament.
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The 2023 WNBA champions
The Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) is an annual preseason and postseason women's college basketball tournament. The WNIT is independent and not run by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The 2023 edition of the tournament featured 32 automatic berths and 32 at-large teams.
Now, let's talk about the 2023 WNBA Champions—the Las Vegas Aces! The Aces defeated the New York Liberty in four games to claim their second consecutive WNBA Championship title. This made them the first team in 21 years and only the third team in history to repeat as WNBA Champions.
The Las Vegas Aces secured their spot in the finals after finishing first in the regular season standings with an impressive 34–6 record. They defeated the Chicago Sky 2–0 in the first round and swept the Dallas Wings 3–0 in the Semifinals. The Aces' success continued in the finals, where they showcased their dominance, particularly in the fourth quarter of game one, with a twenty-point second-half win. Notable performances included Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young, who each scored 26 points, and A'ja Wilson, who added 19 points.
The New York Liberty, the second seed, also had an impressive regular season, finishing with a 32–8 record. They defeated the Washington Mystics in the first round and the Connecticut Sun in the Semifinals, marking their first appearance in the finals since 2002. The Liberty put up a strong fight, leveraging their home-court advantage in games three and four. In game three, they played exceptional defense in the third quarter, taking an eleven-point lead into the fourth. They ultimately won game three by 14 points. In game four, the Liberty started strong, winning the first quarter 23–13. However, the Aces fought back, playing lock-down defense in the third quarter and limiting the Liberty to only 12 points. The Aces' victory in game four secured them the championship. A'ja Wilson, the Finals MVP, led the team with an impressive 24 points.
The 2023 WNBA Finals showcased the talent and competitiveness of the league, with both teams displaying their skills and determination. The Las Vegas Aces' historic achievement of consecutive championships solidifies their place in WNBA history.
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The history of the WNBA Finals
The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) Finals is the championship series of the league and the conclusion of the league's postseason each fall. The WNBA Finals have been played at the end of every WNBA season, with the first being held in 1997. The series was known as the WNBA Championship from 1997 to 2001 before changing to WNBA Finals to reflect its NBA counterpart. The winner of the WNBA Finals is presented with the championship trophy.
The WNBA's playoff format has changed several times. In 1997, a single championship game was held to decide the champion. The following year, the WNBA finals became a best-of-three series after the addition of two teams. Since 2005, the winner has been determined through a 2–2–1 format, where the first, second, and fifth games are played at the arena of the team with the better regular-season record.
The Houston Comets, Minnesota Lynx, and Seattle Storm have won the most championships with four titles each. The Lynx have the most appearances in the championships, with seven in total as of 2024. The New York Liberty has lost the most championships, with five losses.
In 2006, the team with the best point differential in the regular season, the Connecticut Sun, did not advance to the WNBA Finals. This marked the first time this had happened in the WNBA's history. The Detroit Shock hosted the largest crowd in Finals history, with 22,076 people in attendance for Game 3 of the 2003 WNBA Finals and Game 5 of the 2007 WNBA Finals. The 2007 game-five win by the Phoenix Mercury marked the first time a team won the Finals on their opponent's home court. In 2011, the WNBA Finals was the first to be coached by two women. In 2014, the Chicago Sky became the first team to appear in the WNBA Finals with a sub-.500 record.
In 2025, the WNBA Finals will switch to a best-of-seven series with a 2–2–1–1–1 format, similar to the NBA Finals.
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Notable players and their teams
The Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) is an annual preseason and postseason basketball tournament for women's college teams. It is not run by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) but is an independent tournament created by Triple Crown Sports in 1994.
Over the years, several notable players have participated in the WNIT, helping to grow the sport of women's basketball and inspire the next generation of athletes. Here are some of the notable players and their teams:
- Kelsey Mitchell (Ohio State): Mitchell is a standout guard who led the Ohio State Buckeyes to the WNIT championship in 2017. She is known for her exceptional scoring ability and holds the WNIT single-game scoring record with 43 points.
- A'ja Wilson
- Chiney Ogwumike (Stanford): Ogwumike, a versatile forward, was a key member of the Stanford Cardinal team that won back-to-back WNIT championships in 2012 and 2013. She earned MVP honours in both tournaments and established herself as one of the top players in women's college basketball.
- Skylar Diggins-Smith (Notre Dame): Diggins-Smith, a dynamic guard, played for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and reached the WNIT final in 2011. Although they fell short of the championship, Diggins-Smith's performances throughout the tournament solidified her status as one of the top guards in the country.
- Breanna Stewart (UConn): Stewart, a talented forward, was part of the UConn Huskies program that chose to participate in the WNIT in 2014 due to a self-imposed postseason ban. Despite not winning the tournament, Stewart's presence highlighted the level of competition and talent in the WNIT.
These players, among others, have left their mark on the WNIT, using the platform to showcase their skills and contribute to the growth and visibility of women's basketball.
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Frequently asked questions
The WNIT, or the Women's National Invitation Tournament, is a women's national college basketball tournament. It is similar to the men's college National Invitation Tournament (NIT) but is not run by the NCAA. It is an independent tournament operated by Triple Crown Sports, a company based in Fort Collins, Colorado.
The preseason WNIT was created in 1994 as a 16-team tournament by Triple Crown Sports. The postseason version of the tournament started in 1998, also as a 16-team tournament, and was expanded to 32 teams in 1999.
The WNIT started as a 16-team preseason tournament in 1994 and remained that size until 2021. The tournament has since expanded, and in 2021, it became a 64-team tournament. However, starting in 2024, the tournament will be reduced to 48 teams.
