Indiana did the unexpected and no, we’re not just talking about a win. If last year was about getting the reps in and learning the hard way, this year was supposed to be about turning that into wins. And sure, it hasn’t been all sunshine and trophies, beating the defending champs one night and then falling to an expansion team the next. But the Fever finally cashed in when it mattered. After missing the Commissioner’s Cup finals last year, Indy punched their ticket this time. They didn’t just sneak past, they flipped an early disaster into a statement win.

Coming into this one, the vibes weren’t exactly elite. Indiana had dropped three of its last five games, and in each of those losses, they had double-digit leads at one point. Even in the Dallas win, they nearly gave it all away. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Lynx are fifth in the league in fourth-quarter scoring, averaging 20.6 points.  So fans were bracing for another late collapse. But, interestingly, it was a whole different story this time. That holding breath moment? It came in the first quarter itself. 

Minnesota came out strong, leading 13-9 midway through the first, stretching it to 18-9, and finishing the quarter ahead 20-12. Things didn’t get better early in the second either. With just under eight minutes left before halftime, Indy was down 27-14. But then, something clicked. Eleven straight Fever points closed the gap to 27-25, and suddenly, the Lynx just… stopped scoring. Indiana shut them out for the final 8:13 of the quarter and rattled off an 18-0 run to close the half with a 32-27 lead. 

So what actually happened in that 8-minute burst? Lexie Hull explained post-game. When asked, “What changed?” she said, “I mean, people were just flying around. I think we were loaded up. We were helping each other on the defensive side. They would get slips and rolls and there was someone there. So, I think we just trusted each other and I think you saw that in the way, you know, the quarter went out.” 

You could feel that. Indiana really turned up the heat on defense. Their physicality totally messed with Minnesota’s usually smooth-sailing offense – forcing some messy passes and making life tough for their shooters on almost every attempt. That’s exactly where the Lynx had the Fever struggling back in the first quarter. 

So the tables turned, big time. Even before tipoff, Hull had spoken about mirroring Minnesota’s offensive patience and ball movement. The Fever hit on exactly that. A mini-surge – McDonald layup, Cunningham 3, then a drawn charge by Cunningham followed by another three – turned things upside down. Indiana’s run extended to 20-0 and then 22-2 going into the third.

From there, they held it down. Five Fever players scored in double digits, Indy made smart decisions, and they wrapped it up with a solid 74-59 win. But well, while Indy fans were riding high postgame, the game came with a bit of an injury scare too…just not for them.

Caitlin Clark, Lexie Hull rally around Red Panda after scary fall

The Indiana Fever had every reason to pop the confetti Tuesday night. They clinched their first-ever Commissioner’s Cup title and did it without Caitlin Clark even suiting up. But while the locker room was full of joy and champagne, a scary moment during halftime left everyone holding their breath.

If you’ve ever been to a WNBA or NBA game, chances are you’ve seen Red Panda – aka Rong Niu – steal the show at halftime. Her act includes balancing bowls on her head and feet while riding a 7-foot unicycle. But during Tuesday’s big game at Target Center, her routine took a frightening turn. Just seconds after mounting her unicycle using a ladder, she lost balance, fell hard to the floor, and clutched her wrist in pain.

Medical staff rushed in, and she was eventually wheeled off the court in a wheelchair. According to early reports, Niu was taken to a hospital for evaluation. And while the crowd had gone silent in concern, Caitlin Clark and her teammates were quick to show their support, even in the middle of their celebration. Clark, during postgame live, paused and looked straight into the camera to send a heartfelt message: “Red Panda, we love you.” Later, she joined hands with Hull to form a heart, a small but touching gesture that quickly spread across social media.

For Clark and the Fever, it was a moment of empathy. And for Red Panda, this sadly isn’t her first fall, she previously broke her arm after a similar mishap but made a full comeback. Here’s hoping she pulls off another comeback soon.