Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WNBA Cup match.
The WNBA Commissioner’s Cup clash between the Minnesota Lynx and the Indiana Fever may not carry much weight in terms of season standings, but it still offers a shot at silverware — and a good excuse to put on a show. On paper, the Lynx are clear favourites, though the Fever might just have something to say about that.
Minnesota Lynx
The Minnesota Lynx are boosted by the return of Napheesa Collier — their top scorer and centrepiece. With her back in the lineup, the Lynx averaged 99 points over two games, while Collier herself dropped a familiar 24.5 points and grabbed eight rebounds per outing. That said, their defensive vulnerabilities were exposed recently by the Atlanta Dream, who poured in 92 points and shot 53.7% in the paint, underlining that the Lynx’s defence is far from impenetrable.
Indiana Fever
The Indiana Fever are once again without Caitlin Clark through injury. However, they seem to have adjusted to her absence, as shown by their 94-point outburst in the last game, where they hit 59.3% of their shots. The Fever thrive in a fast-paced, attacking game, but the downside is a leaky defence — they’ve conceded at least 85 points in five straight matches, including against middling sides like the Los Angeles Sparks and the Golden State Valkyries.
Minnesota Lynx vs Indiana Fever Prediction
This game is essentially a showcase, and both teams have every reason to go all-in offensively. With their scoring firepower and defensive lapses, expect an all-out shootout.
