The Las Vegas Aces announced their Commissioner’s Cup nonprofit partner earlier this week.
Then they started stacking wins behind it.
Wins that pay forward
Las Vegas opened Commissioner’s Cup play with wins over the Los Angeles Sparks and Golden State Valkyries. Those two wins put the Public Education Foundation in position to receive $6,000 through the WNBA’s Cup donation format.
The Aces selected PEF as their nonprofit partner for the 2026 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup presented by Coinbase. The partnership is part of the league’s 30th season celebration. This year’s theme is “Our Game, Our Legacy.”
Each WNBA team is playing for donations tied to a local organization. For Las Vegas, that means supporting a nonprofit tied directly to Clark County schools.
A local cause with classroom reach
“The Public Education Foundation represents exactly the kind of community-rooted work the Commissioner’s Cup is designed to elevate,” Aces president and general manager Nikki Fargas said in the team’s announcement. “PEF touches every corner of Clark County — from scholarships and teacher development to school supplies and books on wheels. We’re proud to shine a light on the incredible impact they make every day.”
PEF works with the Clark County School District and supports Southern Nevada students, teachers and schools. Its programs include Scholarships Plus, Teacher FastTrack, the PEF Teacher Superstore: Classroom in a Box, the CCSD Book Bus and Black Girl Magic: Juneteenth Jubilee Luncheon.
Scholarships Plus awards nearly $6.9 million each year in college and vocational scholarships to more than 750 students, according to the Aces. The team also said 52% of those students are first-generation college students.
Two games, $6,000 in motion
The Aces helped the cause right away.
Las Vegas beat Los Angeles 79-69 on June 2. Then the Aces followed with an 84-79 home win over Golden State on Saturday at Michelob ULTRA Arena.
The second win mattered on the court. It gave the Aces their first home victory of the season.
It also added another $3,000 to the Cup math.
During Commissioner’s Cup play, PEF receives $3,000 for each Aces win and $1,000 for each loss. If Las Vegas wins the Commissioner’s Cup championship, PEF would receive another $10,000. The runner-up team’s nonprofit partner receives $5,000.
Big shots, bigger impact
Against Golden State, A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young powered the win. Wilson finished with 28 points and 14 rebounds. Young scored 27 points and hit the go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute.
That shot helped the Aces close out a tough game. It also helped turn another Commissioner’s Cup night into more money for a local education partner.
The Aces continue Cup play Monday, June 8, against the Seattle Storm at Michelob ULTRA Arena.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
