Indiana Fever Rookie Reveals 1-Clear Goal as Caitlin Clark & Co. Becomes the X-Factor In Her Growth

Caitlin Clark brought the Indiana Fever back to where it all started—Carver-Hawkeye Arena—for a preseason showdown with Brazil’s national team. It was part homecoming, part statement game, and of course, Clark didn’t disappoint. She opened the scoring with a swished three-pointer, got the crowd roaring early, and finished with a solid 16 points, five assists, and six rebounds. Impressive, right? But as it turned out, it wasn’t Clark who stole the spotlight. Instead, it was her fellow rookie, Makayla Timpson, who turned heads with a short but explosive performance. She chipped in nine points, swatted away two shots, and added a steal—all in just nine minutes of floor time. And while that’s a strong showing, Timpson isn’t satisfied. Just listen to her!

For her, training camp and these early preseason matchups are more than just warm-ups—they’re reps toward a much larger goal: chasing a championship with the Fever. “I would say just pushing the pace and just keep going, not settling for who we were playing with,” Timpson said postgame. “We’re just getting ready to play those bigger opponents to win a championship.”

Now, hearing that from a seasoned vet would make total sense. But for a second-round rookie who’s still fighting for a permanent spot in the rotation? That’s bold. Still, that same championship mindset is exactly what new head coach Stephanie White has been preaching since day one.

 

Makayla Timpson Postgame Interview

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“We’re not shying away from the fact that we want to win a championship,” White said just four days earlier in a press conference. And she’s serious about it. White’s taking over a team that finished last season at an even 20-20—solid enough to snag their first playoff berth since 2016, but not quite enough to get them over the hump. Ironically, it was White’s former team, the Connecticut Sun, that knocked the Fever out of the postseason.

So, yes—the Fever had talent. They had growth. But they also had a glaring issue. Defense. White saw it right away. “The most important thing for us was defensive versatility,” she said in her introductory presser

Last season, Indiana’s defensive rating was 109.5, good for 11th out of 12 WNBA teams. That number told the whole story: the Fever could score, but they couldn’t get stops. And that had to change. So White got to work. First came the vets, two proven defenders in DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Howard, both former All-Stars with championship experience and defensive bite. Then came the 2025 draft. White made her priorities clear and added more toughness, more energy—and that’s where Makayla Timpson entered the picture.

Picked in the second round, Timpson didn’t come in with the fanfare of a lottery selection. But she’s quickly making people pay attention. Even before joining the W, she made noise in college, tallying her 42nd career double-double in a win over Miami. That kind of production, mixed with her hustle and defensive instincts, is exactly what the Fever need.

But to be clear, Timpson’s rise isn’t just about her talent.

Makayla Timpson is at the right place, learning from the right people!

Ever since Makayla Timpson landed with the Indiana Fever, it’s been a crash course in elite-level basketball—and she knows exactly where to turn for guidance: the vets.

“I just look to the vets. They give me a lot of great wisdom and knowledge,” Timpson said. “It’s really just about being myself—staying under control, keeping my composure, and knowing I’m a great player. Having that confidence and believing in myself, that’s what helps me stay poised out there.”

And to her credit, she’s backing those words up.

When the Fever hit the floor for their preseason matchup against Brazil’s national team, they didn’t play like it was just a tune-up. From the opening tip, they brought the heat, swarming the ball, cutting off passing lanes, and forcing Brazil into rushed, awkward shots as the shot clock wound down.

CHESTNUT HILL, MA – JANUARY 30: Indiana Fever head coach and ESPN basketball analyst Stephanie White looks on before a womens college basketball game between the Florida State Seminoles and the Boston College Eagles on January 30, 2025, at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, MA. Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire COLLEGE BASKETBALL: JAN 30 Womens – Florida State at Boston College EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon25013039

The result? A defensive clinic. Brazil managed just 17 points in the first quarter and finished with a mere 44 for the entire game. A big reason for that? Indiana’s veteran backbone. Aliyah Boston, ever the quiet anchor, posted a solid 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. But the box score doesn’t tell the full story; her presence in the paint changed everything. She altered shots, clogged up driving lanes, and dictated the tempo on defense without needing to say a word.

Then there were the savvy pros: DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Howard. Bonner, as always, brought her do-it-all versatility, switching on defense, moving smartly without the ball, and setting the tone with her intensity. Howard added 10 points and 5 boards while playing with her usual edge, diving for loose balls and crashing the glass like it was a playoff game.

By the time the buzzer sounded, Brazil had been held to single-digit scoring in each of the final three quarters—9 in the second, 11 in the third, and just 7 in the fourth. That’s not just a win. That’s a message. Even in preseason, Indiana’s defense looks like it could be the team’s X-factor. It’s anchored by its stars, but what makes it special is the depth—the energy off the bench, the trust, the cohesion.

And for a young player like Timpson, this is the ideal environment to grow in. She’s soaking up knowledge, staying confident, and finding her footing among some of the best defenders in the game.

But here’s the real question: Can she carve out her spot in this loaded rotation?

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