Fever Defeat Lynx in Commissioner’s Cup Championship
The Indiana Fever defeated the Minnesota Lynx with a score of 74-59 in this year’s WNBA Commissioner’s Cup. The Commissioner’s Cup is an annual in-season tournament featuring select regular-season games that count toward tournament standings. Teams compete not only for a $500,000 prize pool but also for charitable donations awarded to organizations of their choice. The championship game pits the top-performing teams from each conference against one another. Despite the loss, the Minnesota Lynx secured back-to-back Commissioner’s Cup title appearances, cementing their place as a dominant force in the league’s midseason showcase. The tournament continues to grow in importance, providing teams with additional competitive stakes during the regular season.
The first quarter was tightly contested until the Minnesota Lynx went on a 12-0 run to lead 18-9 with 2:50 remaining. Caitlin Clark missed the game due to a groin injury, and the quarter featured physical play with a loose whistle from the officials. Indiana struggled early with five turnovers, and after one, Minnesota led 20-12, with Alanna Smith scoring seven points. The Lynx started the second quarter strong, building their biggest lead, but Indiana quickly responded. Kelsey Mitchell’s mid-range shots and Aliyah Boston’s floater cut the deficit, and Sophie Cunningham’s three-pointer gave the Fever a 28-27 lead. Indiana finished the quarter on a 13-0 run, while Minnesota went scoreless for over eight minutes. At halftime, Indiana led 32-27.
Minnesota got off to a rocky start in the third quarter, committing three turnovers within the first few minutes as Indiana extended its lead to nine. The Fever capitalized on the Lynx's sloppy play, going on another run to take a 43-34 advantage with 3:39 remaining. Indiana maintained control for the rest of the period and entered the fourth quarter with a 52-42 lead. Natasha Howard had a standout third quarter, leading all scorers with 16 points. The fourth quarter started out with back-to-back Lynx buckets to cut the lead to single digits. Indiana immediately responded, and the lead bloomed back up to 13. Tempers flared late between Aliyah Boston and Napheesa Collier. Minnesota was unable to mount a comeback, and the Indiana Fever went on to win the 2025 Commissioner's Cup Championship.
