Indiana Fever Upset Minnesota Lynx To Win First Commissioner’s Cup

The Indiana Fever stunned the WNBA by defeating the favored Minnesota Lynx 74-59 to win the 2025 Commissioner’s Cup despite missing star Caitlin Clark due to injury. ESPN prematurely posted a YouTube video titled “Lynx dominate Fever to win Commissioner’s Cup” before the game ended, sparking widespread criticism and accusations of bias from fans and commentators. Natasha Howard led the Fever with 16 points and 12 rebounds, earning MVP honors, while the Lynx struggled offensively, with MVP contender Napheesa Collier scoring only 12 points on poor shooting. The Fever overcame an 8-8 season record and a 13-point first-quarter deficit to outscore the Lynx by a large margin for the rest of the game. Social media influencers like Rachel DeMita publicly condemned ESPN’s blunder, which many viewed as unprofessional. The incident highlighted the unexpected nature of the Fever’s victory and raised questions about media handling of underdog successes.