“I’ve Got the Fever”: Undermanned Indiana Stuns WNBA World with Historic Commissioner’s Cup Victory

The Indiana Fever walked into the 2025 Commissioner’s Cup Final with everything stacked against them—a depleted roster, their biggest star sidelined, and a dominant Minnesota Lynx team waiting to bury them. But what unfolded in the Target Center was not a defeat. It was a defiant, magnificent statement that sent shockwaves through the WNBA and beyond.

The Fever didn’t just win their first Commissioner’s Cup title—they transformed adversity into glory, silenced critics, and reignited belief in what team basketball truly looks like.

A Mountain to Climb: Missing Clark, Missing Depth

The headlines before the game were all about who wasn’t playing for Indiana. Caitlin Clark, the league’s most-watched sophomore and the engine behind Indiana’s offensive tempo, was sidelined for the third straight game with a nagging groin injury. Her absence left a crater on the court: 17.6 points per game, a league-leading assist rate, and a gravitational pull on defenses that no other Fever player could replicate.

To make matters worse, Deir Dantas was away representing Brazil in FIBA Americas competition. And DeWanna Bonner, the veteran Indiana signed to bring experience and stability, had shocked the league by quitting on the team and getting waived after just nine games.

The Fever weren’t limping into the Final. They were crawling.

Facing Goliath: Minnesota Lynx and the MVP Front-Runner

Indiana’s opponent? The Minnesota Lynx. The defending Commissioner’s Cup champions. The league’s top team with a 14-1 record. Led by Napheesa Collier, the MVP front-runner averaging 21.4 points and 10.1 rebounds, the Lynx were clicking on every level. Their offense was fluid, their defense elite, and they hadn’t lost at home all season.

Vegas had Minnesota favored by 14 points. ESPN had pre-scheduled a postgame video titled “Lynx Dominate Fever.”

Everyone expected a blowout.

The Pressure is a Privilege

Fever head coach Stephanie White has preached a simple mantra all season: “Pressure is a privilege.” Despite the odds, she rallied her team with that message. This wasn’t about surviving the night. This was about owning the moment.

From the opening tip, the Fever played like they believed.

A Team Reborn: Mitchell, Boston, and Howard Lead the Charge

Kelsey Mitchell stepped into the void left by Clark and became the heartbeat of the offense. She torched Minnesota early with her signature mix of speed, control, and dead-eye shooting from deep. Mitchell finished the night with 18 points and 5 assists, a performance full of leadership and fire.

Aaliyah Boston, too often overlooked in the league’s star discussions, reminded everyone why she’s one of the most dominant post players in the game. With better ball movement and improved entry passing, Boston finally got the touches she needed. She delivered a double-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists, outdueling Collier in key moments.

But it was Natasha Howard who became the unexpected hero.

The former Defensive Player of the Year put on a two-way clinic. She finished with 16 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. She went 8-for-8 from the free throw line, controlled the glass, and hounded Collier into tough shots and five turnovers. Her hustle plays and defensive reads were instrumental in killing Minnesota’s momentum at every turn.

Howard was awarded Commissioner’s Cup MVP, and she earned every syllable of that title.

Bench Mob Delivers: Cunningham, McDonald, and Hall Step Up

Sophie Cunningham, often a lightning rod for controversy, turned in a clutch performance with 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 three-pointers. Her energy off the bench was contagious. Lexie Hull contributed key hustle plays and floor spacing, while newcomer Aari McDonald, just days after re-signing, provided 12 crucial points and elite perimeter defense.

The Fever didn’t just win with star power—they won with depth, heart, and commitment to the game plan.

A Defensive Masterclass

Indiana’s defense came alive when it mattered most. After giving up 20 points in the first quarter, they held Minnesota to just 39 over the final three quarters. The Lynx shot 34.9% from the field and never found their rhythm.

Every Fever player bought in. They rotated, boxed out, dove for loose balls, and never let Minnesota settle. When the Lynx made a late run to close the gap to seven, Indiana responded immediately with back-to-back baskets from Boston and McDonald.

They never let Minnesota breathe.

Clark’s Six Words Say It All

Though she couldn’t play, Caitlin Clark was everywhere. She was locked in on the sideline, cheering, clapping, coaching. After the game, she walked into the locker room, joined the champagne celebration, and delivered six words that summed up the night:

“Everybody in the league is sick.”

It was bold. It was brash. And it was 100% true.

Clark didn’t mean physically ill. She meant jealous. Frustrated. Disrupted. Her team had just beaten the league’s best without her, and she knew exactly what message that sent.

More Than Just a Trophy

The Commissioner’s Cup isn’t the WNBA Finals, but for Indiana, this was monumental. It was validation. It was proof that their rebuild is working. That they’re not just about Caitlin Clark—they’re about team.

Coach White said it best:

“We had some players that were struggling. But we still gave to one another. We stayed together. That’s growth. That’s championship culture.”

This was a gut-check moment, and Indiana passed with flying colors.

Looking Ahead: 2025 and Beyond

With Clark expected to return soon, the Fever are suddenly one of the most dangerous teams in the WNBA. They’ve proven they can win without their superstar. Now imagine what they can do when she’s back on the floor.

Kelsey Mitchell is in peak form. Aaliyah Boston is finding her dominance again. Natasha Howard is back to elite status. The bench is deep, hungry, and battle-tested.

The rest of the WNBA just got a wake-up call: the Fever are no longer a rebuilding project. They’re a contender.

If you support the Fever, comment: “I’ve got the Fever.”

And one last thing: everybody in the league is sick.