Standing at a towering 6’9″, catching a lob from Caitlin Clark might seem like just another day at the office—but not everyone could’ve pulled it off the way she did. She snatched it mid-air like Stretch Armstrong, and as Ken Swift put it, “I’m here for it.” And really, who wouldn’t be? That kind of size and reach is a huge advantage for the Fever, especially when facing off against smaller lineups. But here’s the thing—Makayla Timpson isn’t just tall. She’s making sure everyone knows she’s got game, too. Still, don’t expect her to sit back and admire the stat sheet. Timpson’s hungry for more. Just listen to the way she talks about her game!

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.

“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 the goal isn’t to play best right now!

“Indiana’s goal isn’t to be playing their best basketball in May, but in September and October,” Coach Stephanie White said earlier. And honestly, that makes perfect sense—because that’s when the real push for the playoffs begins. It’s not about peaking early; it’s about being ready when it matters most.

Makayla Timpson is already locking in on that mindset. She knows the road to postseason success starts with the work she puts in now. And guess what? She’s got people to help her!

Makayla Timpson is in 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.

The result? A defensive + offensive 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, and it’s comfortable, too. Just consider a couple of days ago, Indiana Fever rookie had fans laughing with her witty response to a WNBA veteran. After Howard posted Timpson’s photo on her story, saying, “Gone head and dunk that 😂,” Timpson clapped back with a playful, “Waiting on you 😂😬.”

And the best thing is that she is not looking to change herself; she just wants to adapt in the best manner possible. After the draft, Timpson told reporters: “A lot of fun things, you know. Hopefully, I can go in there and block a lot of shots, you know. And just do the things that I did here, to perfection. Just blocking shots, rebounding, just defending, being a great teammate, and just working hard.” Indiana Fever rookie also expressed her excitement to play with Caitlin Clark, calling her “a great point guard.”

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?