Indiana Fever Crowned 2025 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Champions

Minneapolis, MN – July 1, 2025 – The Indiana Fever have claimed their first-ever WNBA Commissioner’s Cup title, defeating the Minnesota Lynx 74-59 in a hard-fought championship game tonight at the Target Center. The victory marks a significant milestone for the Fever, providing a much-needed boost and a substantial financial reward for the team.

The Commissioner’s Cup, an in-season tournament introduced in 2021, has quickly become a highlight of the WNBA calendar, offering teams not just bragging rights but also a significant prize pool. This year, the winning Fever squad will split a handsome $500,000, with an additional $120,000 in cryptocurrency provided by Coinbase, the presenting sponsor. Each player on the winning team stands to gain approximately $50,000, a considerable sum for WNBA athletes. Even the losing team, the Minnesota Lynx, will see their players take home $10,000 each for reaching the final.

Tonight’s game saw a dominant performance from the Fever, despite the absence of star guard Caitlin Clark, who remains sidelined with a groin injury. The team rallied behind strong performances, particularly from Natasha Howard, who was named the Commissioner’s Cup MVP. Aliyah Boston also contributed a double-double, showcasing the depth and resilience of the Indiana squad.

The Commissioner’s Cup format designates specific regular-season games as “Cup games.” For the 2025 season, with the addition of the Golden State Valkyries, Eastern Conference teams played five such games against their conference rivals, while Western Conference teams played six. The team with the best record in these designated games from each conference then advanced to tonight’s championship.

Beyond the financial incentives for players, the Commissioner’s Cup also emphasizes community involvement. Each team selects a local charitable organization to support throughout the tournament. Winning Cup games results in a $3,000 donation to the chosen charity, while losing teams still contribute $1,000. The winning team in the final receives an additional $10,000 for their charity, and the runner-up’s charity receives $5,000.

The Commissioner’s Cup has added an exciting dimension to the WNBA regular season, creating compelling narratives and high-stakes matchups early in the year. The Indiana Fever’s triumph in the 2025 edition not only secures them a significant financial windfall but also injects confidence and momentum as they continue their pursuit of a playoff berth.