The Indiana Fever had their moment in the spotlight Tuesday night, capturing their first Commissioner’s Cup title with a 74-59 win over the Minnesota Lynx. Although Caitlin Clark missed her third straight game with a groin injury, she was at the center of the postgame celebration that has since gone viral.
Clark, sidelined since June 24, could not play but made her presence felt in the locker room. After the final buzzer, she grabbed the Commissioner’s Cup and turned it into a communal cup for her teammates. The scene was caught on video as Clark called out names, made sure everyone had a turn, and paused to double-check that rookie Makayla Timpson was of legal drinking age.
Fever Celebrate First Commissioner’s Cup With Viral Locker Room Moment
Clark’s role as hype woman capped a night that belonged to the rest of the Fever roster. Aliyah Boston led the way, while Natasha Howard finished with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists, earning the game’s MVP honors. Indiana rallied from a double-digit deficit, outscoring the Lynx 18-0 to close the second quarter and take control before halftime.
While Clark entertained fans online with her trophy antics, the rest of the Fever stepped up on the court. Sophie Cunningham finished with 13 points, and Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, and Aari McDonald each added 12. Indiana’s defense held Minnesota to a season-low 34.9% shooting from the field.
That’s how you make good use of the Commissioner’s Cup trophy 😂@coinbase 🏆 pic.twitter.com/rwd7IjK38n
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 2, 2025
“Who’s next? Is she 21? Guys, is KK 21? Is KK 21?” Clark shouted as she held the trophy, referencing Timpson, who turned out to be 22.
The locker room celebration, shared by the WNBA on social media, showed Clark making sure every teammate had a chance to drink from the trophy. In the midst of the chaos, Clark also called over Kelsey Mitchell, shouting, “Hey Kelsey, get over here.”
The video drew a response from the league itself. “That’s how you make good use of the Commissioner’s Cup trophy 😂,” the WNBA posted on Instagram.
Indiana’s Win Offers Relief After Weeks of Off-Court Distractions
The Commissioner’s Cup win does not count toward the Fever’s regular-season record, which sits at 8-8. But the title marks a high point in a turbulent season filled with injury setbacks and off-court distractions.
The Fever’s Commissioner’s Cup run comes after a turbulent start to the year. The team faced headlines for everything from Clark’s injuries to reported drama involving DeWanna Bonner and Sophie Cunningham. Until Tuesday, Indiana had struggled for positive attention.
Clark, who has missed three straight games due to a strained groin, remains day-to-day. Her status for Thursday’s game against the Las Vegas Aces is still unclear.
