ESPN's Monica McNutt credits Lynx struggles, not Fever, in 96-77 Indiana win
The short version
- Indiana beat Minnesota 96-77, avoiding the bottom half of the 2026 WNBA Playoffs bracket.
- Caitlin Clark posted 27 points, seven rebounds and nine assists; Kelsey Mitchell scored 20.
- McNutt's halftime remarks blamed Lynx turnovers and effort rather than crediting the Fever.
- The Lynx benched four starters after halftime trailing by 23.
- Minnesota and Indiana meet again September 25, with the Lynx needing a win for the No. 1 seed.
Monica McNutt's halftime comments questioning Minnesota's effort drew fan backlash after Indiana's 96-77 victory over the league-leading Lynx.
The Indiana Fever defeated the league-leading Minnesota Lynx 96-77 on Tuesday, a result that keeps Indiana out of the bottom half of the 2026 WNBA Playoffs bracket. During ESPN's halftime show, analyst Monica McNutt focused on Minnesota's poor play rather than praising Indiana's performance.
McNutt noted that the Lynx, trailing by 23 at halftime, had committed 10 first-half turnovers despite not being a turnover-prone team. She questioned whether the organization was looking ahead to the playoffs, asking whether Minnesota was "maybe punting on this one."
Caitlin Clark led Indiana with 27 points, seven rebounds and nine assists, while Kelsey Mitchell added 20. Minnesota substituted out four starters for the remainder of the game after the break, though McNutt's remarks came before those benchings.
Her comments drew criticism from fans on social media, some accusing her of refusing to credit Clark and the Fever, while others agreed with her assessment of the Lynx. The two teams meet again in their final regular-season game on September 25, a matchup Minnesota needs to win to secure the No. 1 seed.