MINNEAPOLIS – The Indiana Fever secured themselves a $500,000 payout with Tuesday night’s 74-59 win over the Minnesota Lynx in the Commissioner’s Cup championship.
Sure, the win is all fine and good, important, etc. The Fever just went on the road and without their star player (Caitlin Clark), took down the WNBA’s top team in decisive fashion.
Great win, the sort of thing that could vault this team to the next level — as it did for Minnesota a year ago. But Fever coach Stephanie White admitted in the buildup to the game, ”I think the money has been more top of the mind for them than anything else.”
So what folks really want to know is A. When will Clark be back? And B. How are the Fever players planning to spend their share of the half-million dollars?
There’s still no firm answer to the first question, but we did do some digging on topic B.
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∎ Rookie Makayla Timpson wants to find a cause and donate a portion of her money to an applicable charity. Beyond that? “Saving it, being smart with it.”
∎ Aari McDonald also plans on saving at least a portion of her share, but placed a similar emphasis on supporting a specific cause and/or charity. “Make a donation to an AAU team, breast cancer awareness, stuff like that.”
∎ Kelsey Mitchell, who played very well Tuesday, said she hadn’t even considered what she’ll do with her share. “To be determined,” she grinned, a response echoed by Natasha Howard at the dais.
∎ Coach Stephanie White does not get a share of the cash prize. But if she did? “Well, I have kids so — college fund.”
All very smart and considerate answers. But the response of the night might go to Sydney Colson, who lightheartedly shot down the question, waving at the reporter (me) and replying: “Oh my God, you’re so nosy.”
Colson made her way back toward the locker room and was promptly ambushed by Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull, who each emptied a bottle of champagne on their beloved teammate.
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