Fever Triumph Over Lynx 74-59 in WNBA Commissioner's Cup Final
On Tuesday night, the Indiana Fever clinched the WNBA Commissioner's Cup title with a decisive 74-59 victory over the Minnesota Lynx. Natasha Howard led the charge, contributing 16 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists.
Despite the absence of All-Star guard Caitlin Clark, sidelined since June 24 due to a strained groin, the Fever showcased resilience. They overcame an early 13-point deficit, demonstrating balanced scoring and a formidable defensive strategy against the league's top team.
The Lynx struggled offensively, recording their lowest shooting percentage of the season at 34.9%. They managed only 4-of-16 from beyond the arc, a stark contrast to their season average of 9.4 three-pointers per game.
Sophie Cunningham added 13 points for Indiana, while teammates Aliyah Boston, Aari McDonald, and Kelsey Mitchell each contributed 12 points. The Fever's collective effort proved crucial in their comeback.
For Minnesota, Alanna Smith was the standout performer with 15 points. Napheesa Collier followed closely with 12 points and nine rebounds, while Courtney Williams chipped in 11 points but struggled with ball control, committing six turnovers.
Smith ignited the Lynx early, hitting a three-pointer and executing an impressive layup during a 12-0 run that established an 18-9 lead. However, the momentum shifted dramatically as Minnesota faltered offensively.
In a surprising turn, the Lynx failed to score for the last 8:17 of the second quarter, going 0 for 10 from the field. This allowed Indiana to capitalize, with Cunningham sinking two three-pointers as part of an 18-0 run that flipped the score to 32-27 in favor of the Fever by halftime.
As the second half unfolded, Indiana extended their lead into double digits. Howard's ten points in the third quarter kept the Fever ahead, and Minnesota could not close the gap to less than seven points for the remainder of the game.
When the Lynx narrowed the score to 60-51 midway through the fourth quarter, Cunningham responded with her third three-pointer of the night, effectively quelling any hopes of a Minnesota comeback.
Last year, Minnesota triumphed over the New York Liberty in the Commissioner's Cup final on their home court. This season, they secured home-court advantage with an impressive league-best record of 14-2.
