The Washington Mystics announced Monday that they would donate winnings from the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup to the Ben’s Chili Bowl Foundation.
The organization will receive $3,000 for each win the Mystics stack during the in-season tournament from June 1 through June 17 with an added $1,000 for each loss.
The franchise added a $10,000 outright donation on Monday.
“We are deeply honored that the Washington Mystics have chosen the Ben’s Chili Bowl Foundation as their WNBA Commissioner’s Cup beneficiary,” Virginia Ali, founder of the city’s iconic restaurant chain, said in a statement. “At Ben’s, community has always been at the heart of everything we do. We truly appreciate the Mystics’ commitment to giving back and creating meaningful impact across Washington, D.C., and beyond.”
The Mystics had previously announced that this year’s “Rebel Edition” uniforms would pay homage to entrepreneurs and artists from the District’s U Street Corridor and the “Black Broadway” era. Mrs. Ali was one of the inspirations for the uniform, the franchise said.
“We are thrilled to continue a longstanding partnership with Ben’s Chili Bowl and the Ben’s Chili Bowl Foundation to support the Washington, D.C., community through this season’s Commissioner’s Cup,” said Dana Campbell, the Mystics’ vice president of marketing. “It’s also an honor to continue amplifying the narrative surrounding our Rebel Edition jersey and the historic legacy of the city.”
The Mystics open Commissioner’s Cup play on Tuesday with a home game against the Chicago Sky. Washington’s preliminary tournament games end on June 17 against the Connecticut Sun.
The team with the best tournament record from each conference will compete in a championship game for their share of a $500,000 prize pool.
