Fever vs. Lynx score: How Indiana stunned Minnesota to win Commissioner’s Cup despite Caitlin Clark’s absence

Indiana fever managed a big upheaval Tuesday to defeat the minnesota lynx in the 2025, 74-59 Commissioner’s Cup championship. The fever played without the star goalkeeper Caitlin Clark (groin), but prepared a brilliant defensive effort to win the WNBA season competition for the first time in the history of the franchise.

Natasha Howard was appointed MVP after finishing with 16 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and two interceptions. It was a real team effort for fever, which made five two -digit players mark, including Aliyah Boston, who added 12 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.

Lynxs are a leading 14-2 this season and a perfect 8-0 at home. They were going to be favored in this match whatever happens, but once Clark was excluded, they jumped at 8.5 favorite points.

At first, it seemed that the number was not large enough when the lynx continued early and pushed its advantage at 13 at the start of the second quarter. It turned out to be the highest point of their evening.

Caitlin Clark Wound Update: Fever Star (Groin) Out for WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Championships against Lynx

Jack Maloney

The fever locked up defensive and held the Lynx aimless during the 8:13 finals of the first half to make the break climb in advance. Everyone expected the Lynx – the best offensive team in the League this season – returns in the second half, but that never happened. The fever did not light it exactly, but they did enough to hold the lynx over a length of the arm in the second half.

The 59 points of Minnesota were the least they scored all season, and their brand of 34.9% of the field was also a sequence. They overthrew the ball more than 16 times and the Precursor MVP Napheesa Collier had five of these reversals in his worst exit of the season.

The victory of the Indiana allowed that no team will never be consecutive to the commissioner’s cup. Here is an overview of the previous winners:

Only one team, the 2022 Aces, won the Commissioner’s Cup and the WNBA championship during the same season.

How the fever succeeded in the upheaval

One of the main objectives of fever This offseason was to improve the defensive. While they have taken a good start on this side of the ball, they have slipped in recent weeks – partly due to The departure of Dewanna Bonner – and are currently eighth in defensive note at 100.2.

They have defensive talents, especially, especially after the return of Aari McDonald’s, and are able to compose things on this side of the ball. This is exactly what they did on Tuesday. With Clark, their offensive engine, again sidelined, they relied on their defense to ensure the upheaval and a good pay check.

While the fever decides how to spend their share of the prize pool of $ 500,000 – $ 30,000 each, plus an additional $ 5,000 in Howard for winning the MVP – here is an overview of how their defense closed the lynx.

Stop necklace

Necklace was the best player in the WNBA this season and is the favorite to win the MVP. She directs the league on average, a career summit of 24.4 points, and has a real chance of joining Elena Delle gives as only players of the WNBA of the club 50/40/90.

Tuesday, the fever kept it at 12 points – its less in a full match this season – out of 6 out of 18 on the field with five reversals.

Howard had the main defensive assignment on the necklace and did an excellent job throughout the match. Howard is one of the few players in the league who has the length and athletics to associate with collar on the ground. All night long, Howard kept necklace far from the rim and forced it to difficult jumpers.

Here is an overview of the graphic of necklace shots.

Although necklace is able to take these photos, they are not easy looks. Against a collar caliber player, all you can do is make things as difficult as possible and Howard has done.

Limit the 3 points

Lynxs are the best 3 -point shooting team from the League this season at 36.3%. Fever is the best 3 -point defense, opponents bringing only 27.5% of their attempts. Three-point shooting is still a key category these days, but especially in scenarios of a match like this.

The fever was filled on Tuesday, which was a great reason for their victory. They maintained the lynx at 4 out of 16 (25%) from the 3 -point beach. It was one of the worst shooting performances outside the lynx of the season. Their four brands were their second less in a match, their 16 attempts were a bottom of the season and their 25% brand was their effective third projection.

The lynx has missed its fair share of open looks, which will be the case every time a team is bad in a match. However, the physics of the fever and the strong pressure at the point of attack prevented the lynx from making themselves comfortable and limiting part of their usual ball movement.

Force turnover

Lynxs are extremely ready to share the ball. They have four players on average at least three assists and their aid rate of 77.3% leads the League. They are doing well despite the fact of not playing with a traditional leader and are tied in fifth rank in the League in turnover at 18.0%.

Against fever, however, the lynx could not enter their usual rhythm. Their 13 assists were a bottom of the season, and they spilled the ball more than 16 times, which resulted in 13 points for fever.

“We were a little more disruptive, we were in the passing paths, we did not allow them to pass the ball to a death, we made their movement a little more difficult because of our positioning, our point of attack against the defense of the balloon screen was better,” said fever coach Stephanie White. “I would prefer to say that our intensity was a little better, our attention to details was better. This is what we are able to do.”