The Indiana Fever captured their first-ever WNBA Commissioner’s Cup title on Tuesday night, defeating the defending champion Minnesota Lynx 74–59 at Target Center in Minneapolis. The win came without their biggest star, Caitlin Clark, who missed her third straight game due to a groin injury.
Despite falling behind by 13 points early, the Fever stormed back with a dominant defensive effort and balanced scoring. Natasha Howard led the way with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists, while Sophie Cunningham added 13 points, including three clutch three-pointers. Aliyah Boston, Aari McDonald, and Kelsey Mitchell each chipped in 12 points.
The Lynx, who entered the game with the league’s best record and were aiming to become back-to-back Commissioner’s Cup champions, struggled mightily on offense. Minnesota shot just 34.9% from the field and committed 16 turnovers. Napheesa Collier, the league’s leading scorer and reigning Defensive Player of the Year, finished with 12 points and nine rebounds but was hounded all night by Indiana’s swarming defense.
Minnesota looked poised to run away with the game early, jumping out to a 27–14 lead in the second quarter. But the Fever responded with an 18–0 run to close the half, holding the Lynx scoreless for over eight minutes and flipping the momentum entirely. From there, Indiana never looked back.
The Fever’s victory is historic not just for the franchise, but for the tournament itself. It marks the first time a team has won the Commissioner’s Cup on the road since the inaugural final in 2021. It also underscores the team’s growth under head coach Christie Sides, who has guided Indiana from a rebuilding project to a legitimate contender.
While Clark’s absence was a major storyline heading into the game, her teammates proved they could rise to the occasion without her. The win also comes with a $500,000 prize pool, with players earning bonuses for their performance in the league’s in-season tournament.
That’s how you make good use of the Commissioner’s Cup trophy 😂@coinbase 🏆 pic.twitter.com/rwd7IjK38n
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 2, 2025
As the Fever celebrated at center court, the message was clear: this team is more than just one star. And on a night when the spotlight could have dimmed, Indiana shined brighter than ever.
