MINNEAPOLIS — Even with Caitlin Clark sitting on the bench in sweats after being ruled out for a groin injury, the Indiana Fever delivered the Minnesota Lynx its first home loss of the season and snatched the Commissioner’s Cup — and its $500,000 pot — in a 74-59 win on Tuesday night.
Led by 16 points and 12 rebounds from veteran forward Natasha Howard, the Fever delivered one of the more surprising upsets of the season. The Lynx, who won the 2024 Commissioner’s Cup against six-point-favorite New York Liberty, were the favorites to repeat given Clark’s absence, Napheesa Collier’s dominance and Minnesota’s homecourt advantage, which was earned with the better winning percentage in this season’s Commissioner’s Cup games.
The Lynx jumped out to a 20-12 lead after the first quarter, but went cold in the second quarter, shooting 18 percent from the floor. The Fever went on an 18-0 run during that span. Minnesota managed to cut the Fever’s lead to nine points early in the fourth quarter, but the hole was too much to overcome, especially as the WNBA’s best long-range shooting team went uncharacteristically cold and shot just 25 percent on 3s.
Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said she felt her players grow impatient offensively. “We had some easy shots that didn’t fall, as did they, particularly early in the game,” she said. “Then they kind of got their rhythm going, and we just sort of lost ours.”
Collier struggled, playing one of her least efficient games of the season. Minnesota needed several others to step up, but Collier received little help from the Lynx’s usual suspects like Courtney Williams, who shot 4 of 14 from the floor and Kayla McBride, who finished 1 of 7. Alanna Smith led the Lynx with 15 points.
Minnesota scored a season-low 27 first-half points and finished with a season-low 59 for the game. The Lynx had entered Tuesday looking to become the league’s first repeat Commissioner’s Cup champion, but instead, Indiana became the competition’s fifth winner in as many seasons.
Last season, Minnesota pointed to its upset in the Commissioner’s Cup as a season-turning moment to establish itself as elite. Though the result is different this time, the loss doesn’t impact the overall win-loss record for either team. Smith said this game could also be a turning point for Minnesota in terms of self-reflection.
“It’s good to look at it as a learning opportunity with a growth mindset,” Smith said. “We always want to play our best basketball so we have to take this game to heart and learn … and make sure we don’t do this again.”
The win was a testament to the Fever’s growth, especially after dropping three of their last five games. Fever coach Stephanie White has stressed the importance of her team improving defensively since she assumed the role last fall. On Tuesday, in the Fever’s most consequential game of the season, Indiana played its best defensive game yet. The Fever were disruptive in the halfcourt, forcing 16 turnovers, while holding Minnesota to a 34.9 percent shooting from the field.
In Clark’s absence, Indiana reserve guard Sydney Colson played 21 minutes off the bench, the most she had played since June 14, frustrating McBride and Williams, who combined for only five made shots. Indiana has struggled with its defensive discipline at times this season and entered Tuesday’s game just eighth in defensive rating. But they recorded fewer lapses en route to their win. Indiana was balanced on offense, with five players scoring in double figures, but it was their defense that was instrumental in its first-half rally.
This story will be updated.
(Photo of Natasha Howard, right, driving against Jessica Shepard on Tuesday night: Matt Krohn / Getty Images)
