Fever Stun Lynx Without Caitlin Clark to Win 2025 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup

MINNEAPOLIS — Even without star rookie Caitlin Clark, who sat out due to a groin injury, the Indiana Fever pulled off a major upset. On Tuesday night, they defeated the Minnesota Lynx 74–59 to claim the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup title — and its $500,000 prize — while also handing the Lynx their first home loss of the season.

Veteran forward Natasha Howard led the way for Indiana with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Her performance was pivotal, especially in a game where Indiana entered as the clear underdog. Meanwhile, Minnesota, last year’s Commissioner’s Cup champion, had homecourt advantage and seemed poised to repeat, particularly with Napheesa Collier playing at an MVP level.

Fever’s Second-Quarter Surge Shifts the Game

Although the Lynx started strong and led 20–12 after the first quarter, their offense quickly collapsed. In the second quarter, they shot just 18 percent from the field. During that stretch, the Fever exploded for an 18-0 run, turning the game on its head. While Minnesota briefly narrowed the lead to single digits in the fourth quarter, they couldn’t recover. Despite their reputation as the league’s top three-point shooting team, the Lynx hit only 25 percent from beyond the arc.

Frustrated Lynx Fail to Find Rhythm

Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve acknowledged her team’s offensive struggles. “We had some easy shots that didn’t fall — as did they — particularly early in the game,” she said. “Then they kind of got their rhythm going, and we just sort of lost ours.”

Indeed, Collier had one of her least efficient performances of the season. Moreover, Minnesota got minimal support from Courtney Williams (4-of-14 shooting) and Kayla McBride (1-of-7). Forward Alanna Smith led the Lynx with 15 points, but the team overall managed only 27 points in the first half and 59 total — both season lows.

A New Champion Emerges

Minnesota had hoped to become the first team to win back-to-back Commissioner’s Cup titles. Instead, Indiana became the fifth different winner in five seasons. Although the result does not affect the regular-season standings, the loss still stings. According to Smith, the game could become a valuable learning moment.

“It’s good to look at it as a learning opportunity with a growth mindset,” she said. “We always want to play our best basketball, so we have to take this game to heart and learn… and make sure we don’t do this again.”

Defense Lifts Indiana in Clark’s Absence

The Fever’s performance was a testament to their growth and resilience, especially after losing three of their previous five games. Head coach Stephanie White, who took over last fall, has emphasized defensive improvement all season. On Tuesday, her message clearly paid off. Indiana held Minnesota to just 34.9 percent shooting and forced 16 turnovers, delivering their most cohesive defensive performance yet.

Without Clark, Sydney Colson stepped up off the bench, logging 21 minutes, her most since June 14. She disrupted both McBride and Williams, who combined for just five made shots. While Indiana has been inconsistent defensively this season — entering the game ranked eighth in defensive rating — their focus and intensity proved decisive.

Offensively, Indiana was balanced, with five players scoring in double figures. Yet it was their lockdown defense that built a lead in the first half and protected it through the final buzzer.

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