BREAKING NEWS:Fever Blaze Past Lynx to Clinch Top Spot in WNBA Commissioner's Cup Showdown Without Superstar Caitlin Clark

It was one of those rare nights in women’s basketball that felt electric—not because of one superstar crossing the threshold, but because of a collective surge from a determined squad. On July 1, 2025, the Indiana Fever shocked the favorites and clinched the Commissioner’s Cup with a 74–59 road victory over the Minnesota Lynx at Target Center. And they did it without their star rookie guard, Caitlin Clark, who sat out for the third straight game due to a groin strain

Minnesota came out strong, riding high from its league-leading 14–2 regular-season record. After an early 12‑0 Minnesota run, the Lynx sprinted ahead by 13 points, and it seemed like business as usual. But Indiana had other plans. After that initial onslaught, the Fever turned ice-cold on offense and set fire on defense. They finished the second quarter with an 18‑0 burst, holding the Lynx scoreless for over eight minutes .

Behind that standout stretch, Natasha Howard was a force—owning the block, crashing the glass, and taking advantage at the line. Her stat line—16 points, 12 boards, 4 dimes, and a perfect 8‑for‑8 free throw performance—was textbook MVP material. She was rightly awarded Commissioner’s Cup MVP honors. But it was the team’s defensive grind that turned the game on its head, proving that a unit’s will can outweigh any one player’s absence.

While Howard spearheaded the team’s interior dominance, the Fever role players delivered timely work. Aliyah Boston soared with 12 points, 11 boards, and 6 assists—a stat line echoing her 2023 rookie-of-the-year pedigree Kelsey Mitchell and Aari McDonald chipped in 12 apiece, providing offensive balance from the backcourt. Sophie Cunningham added 13 points, including nailing three of her five attempts from downtown, underscoring Indiana’s sharpshooting depth

Concurrently, Minnesota’s offense jammed. Napheesa Collier—League’s leading scorer, an absolute force at 24.4 PPG—struggled, finishing with just 12 points on 6‑of‑18 shooting. That effort was nearly half of her average output, reflecting the stifling defense she faced . Alanna Smith led the Lynx with 15 points, but the rest of Minnesota’s offense couldn’t find much breathing room, shooting under 35%, and posting a poor 25% clip from long range

A tale of two halves

Here’s how the game went down in four acts:

1st Quarter: The Lynx raced out to an early 20–12 lead behind a 12‑0 run. Minnesota seemed in mid-season form, while Indiana looked unsettled.
2nd Quarter: The game flipped. Indiana went on an 18‑0 tear, with Cunningham, McDonald, Mitchell, and Boston each delivering key buckets. Minnesota couldn’t sniff a basket for over eight minutes, as the Fever marched to a 32–27 halftime lead
3rd Quarter: Indiana extended the lead with a balanced offense. They outscored the Lynx 20–15 to move ahead by double digits.
4th Quarter: Minnesota threatened early, pulling within seven. Indiana replied with a quick timeout and regained control, then closed the game with poise—knowing the Cup and $500,000 prize were within reach

A Wendover in narrative

The Commissioner’s Cup is more than just a trophy—it’s an in-season extravaganza that includes a hefty bonus and community impact. The Fever earned a combined $500,000 prize pool, in addition to $120,000 in cryptocurrency from sponsor Coinbase. Plus, their success raised money—$13,000—for the Peace Learning Center in Indianapolis

Caitlin Clark, despite being sidelined, joined the frenzy postgame. Amid rampant locker-room champagne celebrations, she spoke volumes: “Everybody in the league is sick,” she declared, speaking to the team’s newfound swagger and growing reputation as the league’s villains ). The lacking star shot through injury didn’t dampen her pulse around her teammates’ grit.

The underdog rises

It’s rare for a No. 10.5 underdog to topple such a formidable opponent on the road—especially without its driving force. Coach Stephanie White reflected on her group: “We have a resilient group… learning to make big plays in tough moments on both ends” That toughness showed—they met a superstar team and dared to answer with grit, heart, and tactical discipline.

In doing so, Indiana sent a signal—not just to Minnesota, but to the entire league: they’re here to be counted. Yes, Clark makes them go. But this night showed—this team can go. They can be.

This title marks only the Fever’s first Commissioner’s Cup win. Historically, they’ve had limited silverware—their last WNBA championship came in 2012. Now, in the Caitlin Clark era, they’re emerging as a team in buttoned-down ascendancy

At 8–8 in the regular season, they’ve shown they can flank up with anyone. And this game is only likely to sharpen them for the post-All-Star grind. Clark is expected to return sometime before or during the July 19 All-Star Game in Indianapolis. Coach White will safeguard her health, balancing urgency with care .For the Lynx, the loss is a stinging reality check. Their offense buckled, their efficiency dipped, and their mettle was tested. They’ll return to Target Center for another tilt against the Mystics on July 3, ready to prove this loss means nothing long-term. Still, holding a league best record, they can pivot without panic .

But this collapse serves as a lesson: no lead is safe, no opponent is a given. Their 34.9% field-goal shooting, 25% from three, and rare scoring drought should sting—for it shows even the best can still be surprised.

In-season tournaments like the Commissioner’s Cup are shaping how we see the WNBA. They bring urgency, stakes, and spectacle outside the playoffs. For Indiana, winning it means more than $500,000 and bragging rights—they’ve captured momentum and narrative.

And for Caitlin Clark, this moment adds layers to her rookie résumé. She didn’t play, but she led, she supported, she pumped up her team. She embraces the league’s scorn and plays into it: “marked on every team’s calendar… nobody likes us,” Sophie Cunningham said last month, owning the role of league villain

Indiana’s story on this night is defiance—from dropping from 20–29 the previous season to becoming a Cup-winning, swagger-loading squad in 2025. It’s proof that this team isn’t built on one player, but on collective will, ceiling-chasing, and arguably, revenge.

And as they get closer to a fully healthy Clark-led lineup, players like Howard, Boston, Cunningham, Mitchell, and McDonald—and even grit guys like Sydney Colson and Lexie Hull—might blur the line between role players and front-line scorers. The Cup win is proof: this isn’t a team waiting for its MVP—they are dominoes, and once you knock over one, the rest come forward.