Amidst rumblings of deceit, betrayal, and helplessness, the Indiana Fever won the Commissioner’s Cup final against the Lynx. There were way too many narratives surrounding Stephanie White’s team–Caitlin Clark got ruled out due to injury, DeWanna Bonner left the team due to a ‘poor fit’, and Indiana wasn’t doing as well as fans had hoped. So, winning wasn’t just going to be handy–it was necessary to keep the championship dream alive. But the frontcourt seemed a little bare-boned after DB’s departure… That is, until Natasha Howard stepped up!
Howard’s veteran leadership was a huge reason that she was brought into Indiana this season. That, added with her roots of being drafted by the Fever, meant that the Gainbridge Fieldhouse was welcoming home a vet who would love to impact winning at the highest level. And win they did. Indiana blew out Minnesota 74-59 to take home the Commissioner’s Cup alongside a couple crates of champagne!
On the No Offseason show, hosts Zena Keita, Ben Pickman, and Sabreena Merchant discussed the turning point in the Commissioner’s Cup final! Merchant locked in on a few key points. “You saw all of the Fever really commit to that defensive effort. The way Sophie Cunningham was able to stay up high, McDonald, Colson–really excellent.” The NY Times Athletic journalist said.
Even Stephanie White had a lot to say about Indiana’s defense. “We were more disruptive, we were in passing lanes. We didn’t allow them to just pass the ball (and) we made their movement a little more difficult.” She said, praising the Fever for their defensive efforts. Even though the Indiana Fever didn’t record too many defensive stats, they certainly put in the work, especially the backcourt.
After all, their impact seeped through a lot deeper than just what the box score shows! Sydney Colson only put up 3 points, but her hustle on D led to a crucial steal and a +19 point differential. But the to-be Commissioner’s Cup MVP truly stole the show! “Natasha Howard? So good on Napheesa Collier in that 1-on-1 matchup, and then what she was able to provide offensively.” Merchant said, and it’s true. Everyone expected Collier to hold all the cards, but what they didn’t account for was Howard having a royal flush.
The six-foot-two forward displayed an absolute defensive masterclass against MVP candidate Napheesa Collier, and boy, was it a sight to watch! She held Collier to just 12 points on 6-18 shooting, and on the offensive end? Put up a game-high 16-point, 12-rebound double-double. Without a doubt, the WNBA vet won the starry matchup, and ultimately? That led to Indiana winning the game. But what exactly was her game plan while taking on Collier? And how flawless was her execution? Let’s find out!
Natasha Howard reveals the secret to winning the Commissioner’s Cup final
When we saw Napheesa Collier is MVP-caliber, there’s a reason behind it. The six-foot-one force of nature is currently putting up averages of 24.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, and almost 4 assists on 52/37/94 shooting splits. In the last four games, she has put up three 20-point performances. The one time she didn’t? Natasha Howard was guarding her.
The Indiana Fever vet had a lot on her plate–Caitlin Clark had a groin injury, crippling the Fever offense, and the less said about DeWanna Bonner, the better. But this wasn’t her first ever rodeo. She started off her career in the Fever jersey, back when they barely made it past the first round, and since then? Howard has accumulated 3 rings, and too many accolades to count.
Jul 1, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Indiana Fever team poses for a team photo after defeating the Indiana Fever during the Commissioner’s Cup final at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
So, when it came down to the Collier-Howard matchup, the Indiana Fever forward gave ‘Phee the work! “Phee’s a great player, but my thing was, make her take hard shots, and that’s what I did tonight,” Howard said after the game, talking about her strategy to take down Lynx’s star player. She applied some heavy on-ball pressure, and wouldn’t give anything easy in the paint either!
Her teammates had nothing but praise for Natasha Howard. “Tash flies under the radar,” Kelsey Mitchell said as per the IndyStar. “Not a lot of people respect what she does and brings to the table. She’s won at every level and I think we have to give her flowers a little bit more.” Without a doubt, Howard’s efforts led the team to a pretty tough victory,
It will be interesting to see whether this win will lead to a shift in momentum for Indiana. The team is struggling more than they thought, and the outside noise? It’s getting overwhelming. Hopefully this championship leads to Stephanie White’s squad drowning out the outside criticism and the noise surrounding DB’s exit. But can the Fever use this Commissioner’s Cup victory to reach the WNBA finals? Only time will tell.
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