(photo courtesy Jesse Johnson, Imagn Images)

(Minneapolis) — The Indiana Fever entered Tuesday night’s WNBA Commissioner’s Cup championship with their best player sidelined and visiting the team with the league’s best record.

No problem.

Employing a stifling defensive effort and using 16 points and 12 rebounds from Cup MVP Natasha Howard, Indiana throttled Minnesota, 74-59. The win gives Indiana its first title of any kind in franchise history.

Caitlin Clark missed her third straight game with a groin injury and it showed early, as Indiana fell behind by 13 points early in the second quarter. But the Fever turned up the defense in the second quarter, holding the Lynx scoreless for the final 8:17 of the first half. Sophie Cunningham hit a pair of 3s as Indiana closed the quarter on an 18-0 run to take a 32-27 lead at the half.

The Fever built their lead to double figures as Howard scored 10 points in the third quarter and the Lynx never got closer than seven the rest of the way.

Cunningham scored 13 points while Aliyah Boston, Aari McDonald and Kelsey Mitchell each scored 12 points for Indiana.

The last three teams to win the in-season Commissioner’s Cup tournament have advanced to the WNBA Finals.