Lynx Clinch No. 1 Seed Despite 96-77 Loss to Fever; Miles Sidelined

The Minnesota Lynx secured the WNBA's top playoff seed on Tuesday night despite suffering a 96-77 loss to the Indiana Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Lynx clinched the top seed after the Portland Fire defeated the Golden State Valkyries 90-82 in overtime later that evening, eliminating the need for Minnesota to win. Coach Cheryl Reeve pulled her starting lineup—Kayla McBride, Courtney Williams, and Natasha Howard—in the second half after the Fever built a commanding 23-point halftime lead (57-34), having trailed by as many as 29 points in the opening half.

Caitlin Clark led Indiana with 27 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds, while Kelsey Mitchell added 20 points. Sophie Cunningham contributed three three-pointers off the bench. For Minnesota, Chloe Bibby led the reserves with 15 points, and Napheesa Collier scored nine. The loss marked the Lynx's fourth defeat in their last five games heading into the playoffs. Reeve stated afterward that she prioritized rest over pursuing a win that appeared out of reach, noting the team's defensive struggles on a night when Indiana scored 57 first-half points.

Olivia Miles, the Lynx's leading scorer and Rookie of the Year frontrunner, was ruled out approximately 90 minutes before tipoff due to a left calf injury, listed as a precautionary measure. Miles told ESPN she was sitting out as a precaution. The rookie has averaged 19.8 points and 6.0 assists per game this season and broke Caitlin Clark's WNBA rookie scoring record on Sunday with 21 points against Connecticut, bringing her season total to 790 points. Reeve indicated Miles would be a game-time decision for Thursday's regular-season finale against Indiana in Minneapolis, contingent on her status after Wednesday's practice.

Minnesota's defense drew criticism from team leadership. Napheesa Collier said the loss was "embarrassing" and that the team should be "disappointed and embarrassed about the product that we put on the floor tonight." Kayla McBride had called for an attitude adjustment at the morning shootaround, emphasizing the need to reestablish the defensive identity that underpinned the Lynx's success this season. Despite the loss, the Lynx finished the regular season 32-11, maintaining the top seed through the head-to-head tiebreaker over Golden State.

Indiana improved to 28-15 with the win and secured at worst the No. 6 seed; a Las Vegas Aces victory on Tuesday capped Indiana at No. 4 at best. The Fever excelled on both ends of the floor, recording 11 steals and scoring 21 points off turnovers, while Minnesota managed only five steals and nine points off turnovers. The two teams will meet again Thursday to close the regular season.