In the WNBA draft room, it’s usually the early picks who command the spotlight. But this year, Indiana Fever GM Amber Cox was calling the shots from a surprising new angle. Taking over in October 2024 after the legendary Lin Dunn, Cox faced a draft unlike any other. For the first time in 7 seasons, the Fever walked into draft night without a single first-round selection. The franchise, long reliant on top-tier lottery picks, is finally writing a new playbook—one that doesn’t start with the No. 1 overall. It’s a shift that speaks volumes about how far Indiana has come.
They didn’t hold a draft party this year. That celebration, the team hopes, is being reserved for something bigger—perhaps a deeper playoff run than last season, when Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell helped snap a 7-year postseason drought.
Still, General Manager Amber Cox knew the pressure wasn’t off. “We had second and third round picks this year. So 19, 20 and 33,” she said in an appearance shared by MVP Szn Swag on X. “So we picked a little later than number one, right, last couple of years. So you’re a bit at the mercy of what other teams are going to do ahead of you.”
Indiana Fever COO & GM Amber Cox talking about Fever’s Draft picks pic.twitter.com/q5ierCWZDC
— MVP Szn Swag (@socorooopova) April 18, 2025
That statement—an admission that Indiana’s fate wasn’t fully in its hands this time—reveals just how different 2025 feels. Since 2018, the Fever have consistently picked in the top five (first-round picks), collecting future stars like Boston (2023), Clark (2024), Kelsey Mitchell (2018), and NaLyssa Smith (2022). But after securing a playoff spot last season and trading away their 2025 first-rounder to land DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard, and Sydney Colson, Indiana signaled they were done rebuilding. Now, it’s about stacking depth and sharpening the edges.
The $204,000 rookie investment Cox greenlit this spring—a sum divided among second-rounders Makayla Timpson and Bree Hall, and third-rounder Yvonne Ejim—isn’t headline-making cash in the sports world. But it is, symbolically, the Fever’s version of a mid-court trap. It’s tactical. Calculated. And designed to win on defense.
“We were so pleased with where we landed,” Cox said. “Picked up Makayla Timpson out of Florida State at number 19. Unbelievable defensive player. She’s six foot two, but has a 6’10 wingspan. She’s the only player in the country to average 17 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. So we’re really excited about her.”
And they should be.
Timpson didn’t just flash brilliance—she sustained it. Across four years at Florida State, she averaged 13.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks in just under 26 minutes per game. That kind of efficiency is rare. That wingspan? Not just a stat—it’s a symbol of exactly the kind of reach Indiana is aiming for, both on the court and in the playoff race.
“Bree Hall out of South Carolina,” Cox continued. “Championship pedigree, was teammates with Aliyah Boston in South Carolina. Won a couple of championships down there. Elite perimeter defender, can really do a lot of things on the defensive end.”
Familiarity with Boston doesn’t hurt either. And the final pick, Yvonne Ejim, rounds out the haul with international flavor. “Yvonne Ejem out of Gonzaga at number 33. Great post player, a lot of potential. Canadian national team member. So she’s had some international experience.”
Each of those three players—Timpson ($69K), Hall ($69K), and Ejim ($66K)—will enter camp fighting for a roster spot. The Fever already has the league maximum of 12 players under contract (Source: Sportrac). Still, Cox and new head coach Stephanie White are intent on cultivating defensive depth. “The name of the game tonight was to really shore up our defense, continue to bring in more versatility and add more weapons to this potent offense,” Cox said.
White echoed the sentiment. “We know we have a lot of weapons on the offensive end of the floor, but on those nights when we’re not making shots… we’ve got to get stops and we’ve got to get better in that area.”
From the outside, it might look like Indiana’s best chess pieces have already been played. After all, this offseason, they secured three veterans with a combined 5 WNBA championship rings and 6 All-Stars. But the front office knows that sustained success doesn’t just depend on stars. It’s about who fills in the gaps—and who can step up when the spotlight fades.
For Cox, a former ESPN analyst turned architect of one of the league’s fastest-rising franchises, this year’s draft wasn’t a headline—it was a hinge.
She may have been at the mercy of the board, but as she walked away with three gritty, game-ready defenders and a total investment just over $200K, Cox proved she still knows how to run the floor. And if things go according to plan, the only mercy being shown next will be by the Fever, when they’re up 20 and pressing full-court.
Lights, Camera, Clark: The Fever’s Preseason Is Anything but Ordinary
Still, if there’s one thing the Fever have learned, it’s that momentum doesn’t always start on draft night. Sometimes, it begins with a homecoming. Just days after finalizing their gritty rookie class, the Fever is set to take the national stage again—this time in a preseason matchup that feels more like a primetime spectacle.
Jul 17, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts during the first half against the Dallas Wings at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Caitlin Clark is headed back to Iowa, and Carver-Hawkeye Arena is about to erupt.
The Fever’s exhibition game against Brazil’s national team on May 4 has been moved up to a 3 p.m. tip, likely to accommodate its historic ESPN broadcast slot. Unless there’s a Game 7 in the NBA Playoffs, this will mark the first nationally televised WNBA exhibition in history.
Tickets? Sold out in 45 minutes. Resale prices? Pushing $250. The hype? Off the charts.
Indiana already leads the league with 41 nationally broadcast games this season, a record. But the real headline is Clark—whose star power is bending the sport’s visibility curve in real time. Last year, her debut sparked a 170% spike in WNBA viewership. Her matchup with Angel Reese? A staggering 2.3 million tuned in.
Now, she’s taking that spotlight back to where it all began.
For Iowa fans, it’s a one-night reunion. For the Fever, it’s another nationally televised statement: this team isn’t just rising—they’ve arrived.
The post Indiana GM Admits Fever Being on “Mercy of Other WNBA Teams” as She Breaks Silence on $204K Investment appeared first on EssentiallySports.
