The Indiana Fever secured the 2025 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Championship Tuesday night time in Minnesota, the primary in franchise historical past, pulling out a 74-59 win over the 2024 reigning Finals champs, the Minnesota Lynx.
Accidents have posed some adversity for the Fever this season. And whereas they headed into the Cup Closing with out beginning guard Caitlin Clark, who’s been battling a groin harm, Indiana rallied round their core of outdated and new. “Studying to play with out her [Caitlin], studying to make massive performs in robust moments on each ends of the ground, is necessary, as a result of that’s going to pay dividends down the stretch of the season for us,” head coach Stephanie White said postgame.
Regardless of being down 20-12 on the finish of the primary quarter, Indiana had no downside bouncing again. “We all know that they’re an excellent group and so they had been going to go on runs, and so for us it’s about containing these runs after which occurring our personal,” Aliyah Boston informed Tabitha Turner-Wilkins throughout her sideline interview.
Indiana turned it up within the second interval, igniting an 18-0 run within the remaining eight minutes of the second, outscoring the Lynx 20-7 within the quarter. Protection was the lynchpin to their Tuesday night time win. Throughout the presentation of the Commissioner’s Cup trophy, Stephanie White informed Michael Grady, “Our defensive vitality once we received into that second quarter was excellent. Our sense of urgency, our detailed orientation on the defensive finish of the ground, and it allowed us to stand up and down and do what we’re greatest at.”
The Fever performed a resilient recreation and put out a complete group effort to snag the dub, however on the finish of the day, there’s just one Commissioner’s Cup MVP. Natasha Howard took house the respect, with a 16-point and 12-rebound double-double. “Tash is a professional that flies beneath the radar. She’s gained on each degree, and I feel we now have to provide her her flowers a bit bit extra.” Kelsey Mitchell told reporters postgame.
Howard wasn’t the one one cooking from the low put up. Aliyah Boston’s influence was felt in every single place by way of her 12 factors, 11 rebounds and 6 assists. And the Fever’s guards had been on level from the perimeter. Sophie Cunningham put up 13 factors and 7 rebounds. Kelsey Mitchell dropped 12 factors and three assists. Aari McDonald posted 12 factors and three rebounds.
After an offseason that noticed the group construct out a aggressive roster, the Fever entered the season primed to compete for a title in October. Whereas they at present sit in eighth place within the League standings with an 8-8 report, the Fever are taking the Commissioner’s Cup win to the financial institution, investing in that momentum heading into the midway level of the season. The previous three winners of the Commissioner’s Cup have all made it to the WNBA Finals for the reason that match’s inception. And the Fever are vying to maintain the streak alive.
“If something, tonight what I discovered is that they have what it takes. I imply, they performed 5 of their final six video games on the highway coming in right here. And for those who can win video games on the highway like they did, in an setting like they gained in tonight, the sky’s actually the restrict. This can be a group that’s beginning to get their confidence, they’re exhibiting their depth,” LaChina Robinson stated by way of ESPN.
Images by way of Getty Pictures.
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