For some time now, the Indiana Fever has been riding high on rookie fever. Remember when the Indiana Fever selected Aliyah Boston as the No. 1 pick? It was a breath of fresh air for a franchise clawing its way back from a 5–31 season. However, she couldn’t shoulder the weight alone. But then came Caitlin Clark, and suddenly, things changed. So when this year’s draft rolled around, Coach White was scanning the board for the next gem who would ride and guide Indiana’s rising tide. Alas, the breeze that once carried Clark and Boston? This time, it blew right past the next one in order, like it had better places to be. 

But before we get there, let’s gain some context.

Fever wasted no time setting the tone for this season. The franchise brought in three rookies—Bree Hall, Makayla Timpson, and Yvonne Ejim—specifically to bulk up their defense. And the reload screamed loud and clear in the 79–74 overtime thriller against the Washington Mystics that they are ready.

With captain Caitlin Clark out, the start was kinda sluggish. But then, Sophie Cunningham entered, and the energy shifted. Not only did she spark the team’s comeback in the second quarter with a 17–5 run, but she also found herself in a spicy moment—getting tossed to the floor and immediately clashing with Mystics rookie Kiki Iriafen. But drama aside, Cunningham was clutch.

Her layup late in the third gave Indiana its first lead since the opening moments—a three from Boston, obviously. What followed was a back-and-forth battle. Neither team backing down, neither giving an inch. With just 12 seconds left, Cunningham once again delivered, knocking down two free throws to tie it at 71 and send the game to overtime.

Overtime was all about grit. The Fever locked in and came through when it mattered most. It was a promising preview of what this squad is capable of when the pressure’s on. But while the win had fans cheering, one question kept popping up….Where was Bree ‘Breezy’ Hall? The 20th overall pick was supposed to make her WNBA preseason debut. Yet even with an overtime period in the mix, she never left the bench. Not even a minute. And fans noticed. 

Why did Stephanie White keep Bree Hall on the bench?

The Indiana Fever played a full 45-minute preseason thriller without giving Bree Hall even a second on the floor. One fan started the conversation, saying, “Bree Hall not getting a single minute through four and a half quarters strikes me as odd.” Especially with CC out due to a leg injury, everyone expected the minute distribution to look a bit different. Hall was supposed to be one of the rookies Fever fans were eager to watch. After all, she just came hot out of a college season that saw her reach the Finals, and she has played more matches than anyone in Gamecock history. 

But instead, coach Stephanie White chose to hold her back. Still, White has Fever Nation’s trust. She has spent the entire offseason studying this roster like a puzzle, trying to fix last year’s gaps. So maybe it was a part of the plan. But did that stop the confusion? Not really. “We were at the game,” another fan chimed in, “and I was so confused why all the other rookies got in—even at the end—except for her 😬.” Timpson got in and even scored her first points (In 9 mins, she scored 4). Yvonne Ejim got her moment, too. 

Considering Aliyah Boston’s Gamecocks partner-in-crime was drafted higher than Ejim and came in with way more hype, it felt like a strange omission. She could’ve knocked down a few buckets if given the chance. And it’s not like the Fever were locked down defensively early on either. Someone else chimed in, “And they were lacking defense. She could have helped!” Hall was often tasked with guarding the best offensive players in college—she’s an elite perimeter defender, arguably one of the best in this draft class. Sure, the Fever’s defense finally showed up in OT with Timpson and Jaelyn Brown doing their thing, but imagine if Bree had been there from the jump. 

Another fan broke down the cold hard math. “She’s probably not making the final roster,” they said. “But to not be given a shot in a meaningless game is crazy.” The Fever brought 15 players to camp. Salary cap says they can only keep 11. Ten of those spots are basically locked. That leaves one (yes, just ONE) roster spot up for grabs. And who’s in the ring fighting for it? Brown, Jillian Alleyne, Timpson, Ejim, and Hall. So the odds are tight.

Hence, in this game, with Boston, Bonner, and Howard still playing deep into the fourth quarter of a preseason game, fans couldn’t help but question the logic. Like… why not give the rookies more time? But all hope isn’t lost. As another fan reminded us, “She’ll probably play tomorrow. Alleyne didn’t play either.” Damiris Dantas and Alleyne didn’t log minutes despite their experience. So maybe Sunday’s preseason game against Brazil at Carver-Hawkeye Arena will be Bree’s time to shine. 

If Clark’s leg is feeling better, she might suit up too. But either way, Fever fans will be watching closely. Let’s see if Stephanie White’s got a plan we’re just not seeing yet, or if more questions will roll in after pre-season game 2.