Just ahead of tonight’s matchup vs. the Aces, Makayla Timpson wasn’t chasing a lot of spotlight. She came in thinking, “I’ve been pretty good on defense, just making sure that’s my anchor and rebounding, running, just doing the little things I can do to stay on the court.” Little did anyone know that the No. 19 overall pick would get an exciting reaction out of Caitlin Clark. Ever since free agent DeWanna Bonner made an exit and Damiris Dantas left temporarily for the AmeriCup tournament, rookie Makayla Timpson has been doing a lot more than just “little things.” 

Most importantly, she has witnessed the biggest jump in her on-court presence. She has appeared in 7 of the last 10 contests. Most recently, she logged a career-high 13:51 on June 27 against the Dallas Wings. Previously, she appeared just twice through the first seven games of the season, and logged in for a combined total of just 3 minutes and 25 seconds. And don’t get it wrong, she has used those increased minutes wisely by absolutely killing it on the perimeter defensive coverage. Just revisit the final 15 seconds of Indiana vs. Minnesota Q1, and you’ll know what we are talking about.

That same defensive prowess showed up today as well. After all, it’s not every day that a rookie earns a sideline celebration from Caitlin Clark herself. “Who’s next? Is she 21? Guys, is KK 21? Is KK 21?” Just a day ago, during the Fever’s Commissioner’s Cup win celebration, Caitlin Clark was looking for Makayla Timpson to join in. It was with the trophy in hand and a little something being passed around. She needed to know if KK was 21. Tonight, judging by the way things went on the court vs. Vegas, it looks like KK is the one everyone will be celebrating next to. In fact, the real party started on the hardwood itself.

Because tonight, when Timpson blocked Chelsea Gray’s shot, Clark just exploded off the bench, leaping in pure, unfiltered joy. It was a classic Caitlin Clark reaction; she was being the hype woman that she is for her teammates. Like, remember when she was ” locked in,” from the sidelines vs. the Lynx, according to WNBA’s official X (formerly Twitter) account? WNBA even described her reaction as “feelin’ when your squad goes on a 18-0 run to close out the first half in the Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game!”

By the looks of it, even tonight, the winner was decided by the second quarter itself. The Fever was leading by 22 without leaving any gaps on either end. The overall 7th and 8th positions have been successfully swapped, with Fever moving past the .500 mark. They are now one step closer to being a part of the top 5. A lot will ride on their next showdown against the Sparks on July 6.

And while MyKayla Timpson got her shoutout from the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year, another 26-year-old Fever guard also got her praise from one of the closest friends of Caitlin Clark.

Another one of Caitlin Clark’s teammates gets a shoutout

With Caitlin Clark out injured, Aari McDonald seized her opportunity and made everyone take notice. She started at point guard against the defending champion Las Vegas Aces. She then led the Indiana Fever to a dominant 46–24 halftime advantage. Her stats: six points, two assists, one rebound, might not jump off the page, but her influence was huge. She controlled the offense with confidence, kept the ball moving, and locked things down defensively on the perimeter.

In just 17 minutes of play, the Fever outscored the Aces by an incredible 25 points with her on the floor. The team’s flow was undeniable. Indiana hit 18 of 29 shots in the first half. They dished out 13 assists with only five turnovers, and much of that success came from McDonald’s sharp decision-making. After this, her performance caught some serious and well-deserved attention. It was from Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, who’s currently rehabbing from Achilles surgery.

He shouted her out on X, posting, “I need a Aari McDonald jersey.” Now, that’s huge coming from Haliburton himself! It’s been a rapid rise for McDonald, who only secured a full-time roster spot two weeks ago. Since then, she has been a quiet but crucial piece. The Fever has gone 2-4 in the games she has played in. And while Caitlin Clark grabs most of the spotlight, her teammates keep delivering when it counts; just ask Haliburton.