The Indiana Fever captured the 2025 Commissioner’s Cup championship on Tuesday night, defeating the Minnesota Lynx 74–59 on the road to secure the franchise’s first-ever Cup title.
Missing All-Star guard Caitlin Clark for the third consecutive game due to a strained groin, Indiana relied on its defensive toughness, veteran leadership, and balanced scoring to overcome a 13-point deficit and beat the WNBA’s best regular-season team.
Forward Natasha Howard led the charge on both ends of the floor, delivering 16 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and two steals to earn MVP honors. The former Defensive Player of the Year also drew the assignment of guarding Lynx All-Star Napheesa Collier and held her to 12 points on 6-of-18 shooting with five turnovers.
“Phee’s a great player, but my thing was, make her take hard shots, and that’s what I did tonight,” Howard said postgame. “She was still going to get her buckets, but I couldn’t do it by myself. My teammates were behind me helping out.”
Fever Shake Off Slow Start, Lock Down Lynx
Indiana stumbled out of the gate. Minnesota jumped ahead early with a 12-0 run in the first quarter and extended the lead to 27–14 following a Jessica Shepard layup with 8:13 left in the second. The Fever looked out of rhythm offensively and struggled to contain the Lynx’s movement and interior scoring.
But everything changed in the final eight minutes of the first half. Indiana held Minnesota scoreless the rest of the quarter, forcing 10 consecutive missed shots and capitalizing with an 18–0 run to take a 32–27 lead into halftime.
“I think we were just more disruptive,” head coach Stephanie White said. “Our point of attack on ball screen defense was better. We were in passing lanes, made their movement more difficult, and didn’t let them settle.”
Minnesota finished the night with 16 turnovers and scored just 39 points over the final three quarters. It marked the Lynx’s worst offensive performance of the season, both in points and shooting percentage (34.9%).
the squad was HYPE after securing the Commissioner’s Cup 😤 pic.twitter.com/58R1vfLLrA
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) July 2, 2025
Howard, Cunningham Spark Second-Half Surge
The Fever pushed the lead into double digits in the third quarter, with Howard scoring 10 of her 16 points in the period. Sophie Cunningham added timely shooting off the bench, finishing with 13 points and three made 3-pointers, including one that halted a Minnesota run midway through the fourth quarter.
Indiana’s ball movement and pace improved as the game progressed. Aliyah Boston recorded a double-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, while Kelsey Mitchell and Aari McDonald each added 12 points.
“I’d describe this as a gut-check experience — physically, mentally, and psychologically,” Mitchell said. “We did an unbelievable job of staying together and weathering the storm.”
After trailing for much of the first half, Indiana never gave the lead back after its second-quarter surge. When Minnesota trimmed the deficit to nine in the fourth, Cunningham’s third 3-pointer pushed the lead back to double figures, effectively ending the Lynx’s hopes.
No Clark, No Problem
Clark, the league’s assists leader and one of its top scorers, missed the Commissioner’s Cup final due to a groin injury suffered on June 24. In her absence, the Fever showed just how well-rounded and battle-tested their roster has become.
“Caitlin is a high-usage player with the ball in her hands a lot,” White said. “Learning to play without her and make big plays in tough moments is important — it’ll pay dividends down the stretch.”
Indiana’s backcourt rotation stepped up in Clark’s absence, with McDonald earning the start and providing downhill speed and defensive intensity. Mitchell helped stabilize the offense and was a vocal leader throughout the night.
“We have a team full of givers,” Mitchell added. “Even when things get tough, I’ve never been around a group that stays together like this.”
A Statement Win for a Growing Team
Caitlin Clark and the squad hit Sydney Colson with the champagne shower after the win 🍾😂 pic.twitter.com/cwzJaApjtd
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) July 2, 2025
The Fever improved to 8–8 on the season and brought home the Commissioner’s Cup trophy along with a $500,000 prize pool split among the players and coaching staff. While the game doesn’t count toward the regular-season standings, it marked a significant moment in the team’s development.
“It’s nice to take a trophy home, but this isn’t the ultimate goal,” White said. “It’s a step along the way. We’ve got to continue to get better and stack days.”
Howard, who began her career in Indiana and later played for Minnesota, reflected on the full-circle moment.
“It brings back memories of playing here,” she said. “But I’m on a different team now, so it’s a different story. It feels good to win a Commissioner’s Cup with a group of ladies like this — selfless, giving their all in practice every day.”
Celebrating a Championship
After the final buzzer, the Fever’s locker room transformed into a celebration. Champagne bottles were popped, music played, and teammates shared the moment together. Cunningham and Mitchell even had a race to shotgun cold beverages.
“We were just spraying everybody, having a good time,” Mitchell said. “We worked really hard to get here, and it was fun to celebrate that win together.”
When asked what she planned to do with her Cup bonus, Howard smiled.
“I’m going to put mine in the bank and also invest my money,” she said.
White joked that with four kids, her share is already earmarked for college savings.
Looking Ahead
The Indiana Fever now return to Indianapolis for a pivotal five-game homestand beginning Thursday against the Las Vegas Aces at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Whether Clark is ready to return remains to be seen, but the Cup final showed the Fever can win — and win big — without her on the floor.
“You’ve seen this group grow,” White said. “They’re learning to trust each other, play together, and respond in tough moments. There’s no substitute for that.”
Tuesday’s win marked more than a championship — it was a reflection of a team learning how to win in different ways. With Clark sidelined and adversity hitting early, the Fever found answers from within.
They answered the call. And now they have the trophy to prove it.
