The Indiana Fever rally from a big early deficit to earn a $500,000 prize by beating the WNBA-leading Minnesota Lynx 74-59 in the Commissioner’s Cup championship game.
Game MVP Natasha Howard has 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead Indiana. Aliyah Boston has 12 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists. Sophie Cunningham has 13 points, and Aari McDonald and Kelsey Mitchell 12 each.
Indiana trails by 13 points early in the second quarter, but surges to control the game in the fourth quarter. They shoot 42.1% from 3-point range and own a 10-rebound advantage.
Caitlin Clark sits out a third straight game with a groin injury.
Alanna Smith scores 15 points to lead Minnesota. Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride combine for just 21. The Lynx score just 39 points over the final three quarters.
The Fever resume regular-season play by hosting Las Vegas on Thursday night.
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Fever keep their lead late vs. Lynx
4:11 left 4Q, Fever 63, Lynx 51: Sophie Cunningham hits a 3 with 4:11 left. Timeout, Lynx. Minnesota is in the bonus with 4:34 to go as the Fever pick up fouls away from the basket.
Lynx cut into Fever lead
8:45 left 4Q, Fever 52, Lynx 45: The Fever commit a couple of fouls and miss close shots early in the quarter. They call a timeout.
Indiana has lost fourth-quarter leads in recent losses to Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Golden State.
Fever 52, Lynx 42 through three quarters
Natasha Howard has 16 points and 11 rebounds to lead Indiana. Alanna Smith has 15 points and Napheesa Collier 8 for Minnesota.
Fever lead Lynx late in third quarter
1:56 left 3Q, Fever 50, Lynx 40: Indiana briefly runs its lead to 14 points. The Lynx, who shot 60% in the first quarter, are down to 35.7% for the game.
Fever’s defense leads to double-digit lead
3:27 left 3Q, Fever 45, Lynx 34: Lexie Hull gets a 3, and Natasha Howard gets a steal and layup. Timeout, Minnesota.
Fever maintain lead over Lynx
4:58 left 3Q, Fever 40, Lynx 34: Natasha Howard and Kelsey Mitchell have 10 points each for Indiana, Alanna Smith 12 for Minnesota.
Minnesota is out-of-sorts offensively, with three early turnovers as Indiana extends its lead to 9 points. Aliyah Boston scores on the first possession of the quarter, but Napheesa Collier counters at the 9:20 mark, Minnesota’s first points in almost 9 minutes of game action.
Halftime: Fever 32, Lynx 27
The Fever hold Minnesota scoreless for the final 8:13 of the second quarter, spanning 16 possessions. Indiana scores the final 18 points of the second quarter.
Kelsey Mitchell has 8 points and Aari McDonald 7. Natasha Howard has 9 rebounds and Aliyah Boston 8, and they have a combined 8 assists.
Alanna Smith has 7 points for Minnesota, which is up to 9 turnovers and is -8 in rebounds.
Sophie Cunningham’s 3 gives the Fever at 28-27 lead, its first since the opening minutes.
Fever narrow deficit vs. Lynx
3:09 left 2Q, Lynx 27, Fever 25: Aliyah Boston gets her first basket with 3:13 left. Indiana has scored 11 straight as Minnesota has gone 5+ minutes without scoring.
Lynx in command at both ends vs. Fever
5:39 left 2Q, Lynx 27, Fever 19: Minnesota is getting easy looks and the Fever are having trouble finding an open shot, though they have scored the last 5 points. Indiana has 8 turnovers.
Fever can’t score inside vs. Lynx
End 1Q, Lynx 20, Fever 12: Guards have scored all of Indiana’s points. The Fever are 27.8% from the field. Alanna Smith has 7 and Napheesa Collier 6 for the Lynx, who are 60% from the field.
Lynx build lead over Fever
2:50 left 1Q, Lynx 18, Fever 9: Minnesota’s run grows to 12-0. Timeout, Indiana.
Fever vs. Lynx begin Commissioner’s Cup title game
4:49 left 1Q, Lynx 13, Fever 9: The Lynx have scored 7 straight points. Aari McDonald has 5 points for Indiana. Courtney Williams has 5 for Minnesota.
Fever vs Lynx starting lineups
Fever: Aari McDonald, Kelsey Mitchell, Lexie Hull, Natasha Howard, Aliyah Boston
Lynx: Bridget Carleton, Napheesa Collier, Alanna Smith, Kayla McBride, Courtney Williams
Fever coach Stephanie White discusses Caitlin Clark’s injury
Fever vs Lynx courtside scenes
Fever vs. Lynx expert prediction for today, July 1
Brian Haenchen, IndyStar: Lynx 87-79
“The big variable here is, obviously, the status of Caitlin Clark. The Fever improved to 3-4 sans Clark this season with last Friday’s win over the now-five-win Dallas Wings, but the first-place Lynx present an entirely different challenge. They’d lost only twice entering Sunday’s game vs. Connecticut and have a veteran roster led by WNBA All-Star team captain Napheesa Collier.
“The Fever should be well-rested and I think that will help them keep it close, regardless of Clark’s status. But that’s a really, really good Lynx team and they should be especially dialed in with the (checks notes) Commissioner’s Cup hanging in the balance.”
Is Caitlin Clark playing today vs. Lynx in Commissioner’s Cup?
She is out for the third game with a groin injury. She previously missed five games with a quad injury.
When do the Indiana Fever play the Minnesota Lynx today?
8 p.m. ET Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at Target Center in Minneapolis.
Re-live Caitlin Clark’s spectacular rookie year with this book
What channel are the Indiana Fever vs Minnesota Lynx today?
Stream: Prime Video, with Michael Grady (play-by-play), LaChina Robinson (analysis) and Tabitha Turner (sideline reporting)
What radio station is the Fever game on?
93.5 and 107.5 FM in Indianapolis, with John Nolan (play-by-play) and Bria Goss (analysis)
What is the Commissioner’s Cup?
The WNBA’s in-season tournament. Each of the six Eastern Conference teams played one game against each other from early to mid June. Each of the seven Western Conference teams played one game against each other. The Indiana Fever had the best record in the East, while the Minnesota Lynx won the West.
How much money do you get for winning the Commissioner’s Cup?
The winning team divides $500,000. The game MVP gets $5,000. Players on the losing team get $10,000 each. Players will also receive cryptocurrency.
Does the Commissioner’s Cup championship game count toward the regular-season record?
No. This is strictly for cash.
Fever vs. Lynx injury report today
Fever: Caitlin Clark (groin) is questionable. Damiris Dantas is not with the team (international obligation)
Lynx: Karlie Samuelson is out.
Caitlin Clark stats
In nine games this season, Caitlin Clark averages 18.2 points, 8.9 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals, making 29.5% of her 3-pointers.
Are the Indiana Fever favored vs the Minnesota Lynx today?
via BetMGM
Favorite: Lynx by 5.5 points
Over/under: 167.5 total points
Moneyline: Fever +180, Lynx -220
ESPN’s matchup predictor gives the Lynx a 72.7% chance of winning.
Fever vs Lynx tickets today
Fever-Lynx start at $68 on StubHub
Fever probable starting lineup today
(Season averages)
Lynx probable starting lineup today
Indiana Fever upcoming schedule
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Fever vs Minnesota Lynx recap: Fever beat Lynx without Caitlin Clark, earn $500,000
Reporting by Scott Horner and Brian Haenchen, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
