The Indiana Fever claimed the 2025 WNBA Commissioner's Cup title, defeating the Minnesota Lynx 74-59. Natasha Howard led the Fever with a double-double, scoring 16 points and securing 12 rebounds. The Fever's victory was especially notable as they played without their star guard, Caitlin Clark, who is currently sidelined with a groin injury.
The Commissioner's Cup is an annual in-season competition in the WNBA. All of the WNBA teams play in a total of 36 games from June 1 to July 1. This year each Eastern Conference team played five games, and each Western Conference team played six games. The team from each conference with the best record in Commissioner's Cup games then competes for a $500,000 prize pool in the Commissioner's Cup Championship.
Despite missing Clark, the Fever displayed a gritty performance on the road. Howard stepped up significantly, contributing on both ends of the court. Sophie Cunningham provided a spark off the bench, scoring 13 points, including three three-pointers at crucial moments. Aliyah Boston also contributed a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Kelsey Mitchell added 12 points to the Fever's victory.
The Lynx, who were the defending champions, struggled to find their rhythm on offense, particularly in the fourth quarter. Alanna Smith led Minnesota with 15 points, while Napheesa Collier added 12. Courtney Williams also contributed 11 points for the Lynx. Minnesota had a strong start, outscoring Indiana 20-12 in the first quarter. However, the Fever responded by ramping up their defense and going on an 18-0 run to end the second quarter with a 32-27 lead. The Lynx went the last 8:13 of the first half without scoring.
Indiana extended their lead to 45-34 in the third quarter, maintaining a comfortable 50-40 advantage. Although the Lynx attempted to close the gap in the fourth quarter, the Fever maintained their intensity and secured the victory.
The Fever's journey to the Commissioner's Cup Final included an 88-71 win over the Connecticut Sun on June 17, which secured their spot in the championship game. In that game, Natasha Howard also recorded a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Kelsey Mitchell extended her double-digit scoring streak to 11 games.
With the Commissioner's Cup victory, the Indiana Fever players will split the $500,000 prize pool. Each player in the game will also receive $5,000 in cryptocurrency. The Fever also earned an additional $3,000 for their Commissioner's Cup beneficiary, Peace Learning Center, bringing their tournament total to $13,000.
The 2025 WNBA season is the 29th season of the WNBA. The league has expanded to 13 teams with the addition of the Golden State Valkyries. The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game will be held on July 19 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The WNBA Finals will use a best-of-seven format for the first time and are scheduled to conclude in October.
