After the New York Liberty’s Commissioner’s Cup win on Tuesday, Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu made clear that the $500,000 prize pool was not something they intended to keep to themselves. The veteran duo announced they would share their portions of the prize money with the Liberty’s developmental players, who are excluded from the Commissioner’s Cup distribution under the current CBA.

“Our PD players don’t get the prize money, which is kind of crazy,” Stewart said, as per B/R W Sports. “So, maybe share some of it with them.”

“I mean, maybe give it to our developmental players because they don’t get any of the prize money,” Ionescu said. “They’ve been working hard for us all year, so maybe help them out a little bit.”

Under the current CBA structure, the full $500,000 prize pool goes to the winning team’s active roster players, who receive $30,000 each. However, developmental players are not included. Stewart and Ionescu want to change that for themselves, specifically looking to direct the portions towards developmental players Anneli Maley and Marine Fauthoux.

The point of the gesture is not that Maley and Fauthoux were central contributors in the tournament. Fauthoux appeared in three games at just over five minutes per game, and Maley did not feature in the Commissioner’s Cup at all. It is that Stewart and Ionescu see the prize as something the whole group earned, regardless of what the rules require.

Stewart made that framing explicit in the postgame press conference.

“I mean 30K is 30K,” Stewart said via Sports on Prime. “I think what’s kind of crazy is that our developmental players, they don’t get this money. They don’t get this cash prize. We want to make sure we give it to them. And really making sure that they are a part of it because they help us win these games.”

The decision also came on the back of the performances that made the prize possible in the first place. Ionescu scored a season-high 26 points in the final against the Aces. Stewart added 25 points and 11 rebounds, earning the game’s MVP award. Their individual showings were the foundation of the 93-85 win that made Liberty the first franchise to win the Commissioner’s Cup twice, having previously taken it in 2023.

Individual stat lines doesn’t matter to Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu. For them, the developmental players are a part of the team that wholly deserves recognition. This was their blueprint to ensure that it happens under their watch. Subsequently, their decision has also generated significant hype among fans on social media.

Fans Laud Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu as True Leaders for Their Heartfelt Gesture

“I’m glad they won for this alone,” a fan wrote.

“Love them for doing this,” stated another.

On or off the court, Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu continue to raise the standards. While their prize money decision clearly set a precedent, the veteran duo also ensured they led the team to winning ways in the finals.

“Great leadership. Congratulations to the Liberty!” remarked a netizen.

“Sab and Stewie are leaders frfr! ❤️❤️❤️” chimed in another.

In a locker room, it’s mostly up to the veterans to set an example for the rest. And decisions like these by Ionescu and Stewart help Liberty to set the tone and foster a sense of unity and togetherness, not just among the active players but the developmental players as well. The fans were quick to pinpoint it while reacting to their gesture.

“Great and humble women,” another fan summed up.

This isn’t the first time that these players have made headlines for such decisions. Last year, Ionescu shared half of her prize money after winning the three-point shooting contest with Sonia Citron and donated her remaining half to her foundation. It was Ionescu who recognized Citron’s sheer guts for stepping up on the big stage despite being a rookie.

In a league where developmental players occupy an uncertain financial position with limited access to prize pools and fewer contract guarantees, the gesture carries weight beyond the dollar amount. Stewart and Ionescu made the case that the prize should follow the team, not just the active roster.