The Indiana Fever defeated the Minnesota Lynx 74-59 to capture the WNBA Commissioner's Cup final on Tuesday. The victory came despite star guard Caitlin Clark missing her third consecutive game due to a groin injury.

The Fever overcame 10.5-point underdog odds against the league's first-place team at Target Center. Indiana improved to 8-8 with the in-season championship victory, earning the team's players a share of the $500,000 prize pool.

Forward Natasha Howard earned MVP honors with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists in her first season with Indiana. The 2019 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year held Minnesota star Napheesa Collier to 12 points on 6-of-18 shooting.

Aliyah Boston contributed 12 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists for the Fever. The guard corps without Clark combined for 46 points, led by veteran Kelsey Mitchell in her eighth season with Indiana.

"We have a resilient group, you know?" Fever coach Stephanie White said. "They're tough, mentally and physically. They pull for one another. I'm just really proud. We're going to continue to get better."

Indiana's defense held Minnesota scoreless for the final 8:13 of the second quarter to take control. The drought marked the Lynx's longest scoreless stretch since August 2011, before their first WNBA championship.

"I think we've got a team full of givers," said Mitchell. "That's what our team is all about. It felt good to get a win under gut-check circumstances."

Coach White indicated the team will not rush Clark's return from the groin injury. Clark has participated in noncontact workouts and serves as an All-Star captain for the July 19 game in Indianapolis.

"She's making progress," White said of Clark. "Top of mind is just long term, making sure we don't have any setbacks. Making progress and feeling good are two different things."