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The Indiana Fever are heading to uncharted territory. With an 88-71 triumph over the Connecticut Sun, the Fever have officially clinched their first-ever trip to the Commissioner’s Cup championship.
Scenes from inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse 😤
The @IndianaFever have advanced to their first Commissioner's Cup championship in franchise history with tonight's win over the Sun, 88-71.
WNBA Commissioner's Cup presented by @coinbase pic.twitter.com/jKvumvLWdF
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 18, 2025
Caitlin Clark shone as the star of the night, delivering a composed and commanding performance. Just two games removed from a quad injury, the 23-year-old guard looked fully recharged. She finished with 20 points, six assists, sinking four three-pointers out of her six attempts. Her presence brought pace and purpose, lighting up the scoreboard and giving her teammates room to shine.
But Clark was not alone in lifting Indiana to this franchise milestone. Kelsey Mitchell chipped-in 17 points, while Natasha Howard held down the paint with 16 points and 12 rebounds, securing her double-double with hustle on both ends of the floor. Damiris Dantas stepped up with 13 off the bench, giving the Fever a key scoring boost during a third-quarter stretch that pulled the game wide open.
Indiana set the tone early, opening the game with sharp ball movement, tight defense, and a calm intensity that kept the Sun guessing. By halftime, the Fever had built a solid lead and never let go. When Connecticut tried to fight back in the third, Indiana answered with a flurry of baskets and stops. The game turned into a rout, and the final minutes became a celebration.
Still, it wasn’t just the basketball that had fans talking. In the third frame, a hard foul on Clark by Connecticut’s Jacy Sheldon led to a brief skirmish. Sheldon poked Clark in the eye, and as she stumbled, Marina Mabrey came in late and shoved her to the floor, sparking another heated moment. Officials reviewed the sequence and handed out technical fouls to Clark and Mabrey, and a flagrant on Sheldon.
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Tensions boiled over again in the final minute. With 46 seconds left, Sheldon made a steal and drove to the basket, only to be wrapped up by Sophie Cunningham on a hard foul. Sheldon bounced up quickly and confronted Cunningham, leading to a shoving match under the rim. The altercation ended with ejections for Cunningham, Sheldon, and Connecticut’s Lindsay Allen.
This win means everything for the Fever. Not only does it mark their first-ever Commissioner's Cup Final appearance, but it also signals a powerful turning point for the franchise. Indiana has gone from a rebuilding team to a contender. With a mix of veteran steadiness and youthful energy, they have found their rhythm. Clark’s leadership continues to set the tone, while players like Mitchell and Howard provide the foundation.
Now the Fever will turn their attention to the Western Conference champion, the Minnesota Lynx, who will host the final on July 1. It will be a clash between two rising teams with something to prove. For Indiana, this is a shot at real hardware. For a team that has not had much to celebrate in recent years, this is more than a trophy. It is validation.
Clark’s journey this season has been anything but easy. She entered the league with immense expectations. She has taken hard fouls, drawn media scrutiny, and played through pain. Yet she continues to show why she was the number one pick. Her basketball IQ, long-range shooting, and composure in big moments have elevated the entire Fever squad. And her performance tonight was no exception.
The crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse felt that connection. The building was electric from start to finish, and as the Commissioner’s Cup Final awaits, one win stands between the Fever and a piece of WNBA history. With the way they are playing, with the way they are growing, and with the fire they showed tonight, that win feels more within reach than ever before.
