Makayla Timpson didn’t hear her name called in the early rush of the 2025 WNBA Draft. But when the Indiana Fever selected her with the 19th overall pick, it was clear they had been watching her closely. The Florida State forward brings grit, hustle, and upside—exactly what Indiana was looking for. And don’t get it wrong: the Fever didn’t stumble into this pick. Timpson was high on their draft board, and they were ready when she dropped to them in the second round.
After the draft, Timpson was still taking it all in. Joining the same squad as Caitlin Clark? That part hadn’t quite sunk in yet. “Oh yeah, that’s going to be pretty cool,” she said with a grin when asked about suiting up next to Clark. Cool, yes. But for now, her focus is clear: earn a roster spot. That’s the next step.
Makayla Timpson on playing with Caitlin Clark and what
Fever fans can expect from her: pic.twitter.com/hC3BZSKAtd
— C (@C038254) April 15, 2025
“She’s a great point guard, you know,” Timpson continued. “She set the tone for the league last year… she had an incredible rookie season.” No lies there. Caitlin Clark didn’t just adjust to the WNBA—she stormed in and made it hers. That admiration wasn’t just surface-level. For Timpson, it hit close to home.
Much like Clark in her first year in the WNBA, Makayla Timpson knows what it feels like to go up against players who are taller, stronger, and more physical. That was one of the points that stood out in her draft reports. Clark struggled enough in her season for people to wonder whether she is being treated harshly or if the league is just that demanding. With Clark at her side, who has been giving it all inside gym rooms, Timpson will have someone to learn from and someone who will keep her motivated without saying anything.
Also, just like Clark was, Timpson must now be a local hero in her small town of Edison, where she grew up. And while her name didn’t flash across national headlines every week, she was a crucial part of one of the best scoring teams in the country, holding down the paint while teammates like Ta’Niya Latson and O’Mariah Gordon got buckets. So when Timpson talks about Clark “setting the tone,” there’s an unspoken understanding. It’s not just about plain stats, but more about adjusting and elevating. It’s about proving that you can hang at the next level—even when the game moves faster and hits harder than ever before.
However, drafted into a roster that’s no longer rebuilding but reloading, she knows there are no guarantees—not even of a roster spot. But what she brings could be exactly what Indiana needs off the bench. And if there’s one thing Clark’s rookie year showed everyone, it’s that fit matters just as much as flash.
What Caitlin Clark’s New Teammate Makayla Brings to the Fever’s Rise
Makayla Timpson knows exactly who she is—and more importantly, who she’s not. In a league where everyone wants to do everything, Timpson’s boldest take is that she’s not here to be something she’s not. She’s not trying to stretch the floor or repackage herself as a shooter. MT is just not ready to tweak her individuality to fit a box. She’s bringing what she already does best—and betting that it’s enough.
And in this Indiana Fever training camp, where roster spots are scarce and expectations sky-high, that kind of self-awareness might be her greatest weapon. “Hopefully I can go in there and block a lot of shots,” Timpson said, sending her strong message. “Just do the things that I did here to perfection.”
She’s not exaggerating. Timpson left Florida State as the school’s all-time leading rebounder (1,094) and one of the most dependable defenders in the country. Her long wingspan and uncanny timing made her a nightmare for opposing offenses, averaging 3.7 blocks and nearly 2 steals per game this past season. She didn’t just play defense. She owned it.
“Defensively, she does so much for us,” said head coach Brooke Wyckoff. “She’s rotating, she’s blocking shots, she’s guarding the biggest player on the other side.” However, let’s not forget that the WNBA is a completely different monster. And just being drafted is not going to seal one’s future on the roster.
And Indiana might be facing this issue more than other teams this season. There have been concerns mounting whether any 2025 Indiana picks will even make it into the roster, considering that the team’s salary cap doesn’t give them that privilege. And as per the rules, each team is allowed to have only 12 players. The Fever? They have already hit that number. The team will have to do some shuffling to be able to sign just one rookie among the three picked. The good news for Timpson? If that happens, she will most probably be picked over the other two.
Yet, nothing is clear. Her future in the W is still hanging in the air. And yet, you can count on her not to pretend who she isn’t in desperation. She’s not trying to shoot like Clark just to prove she can.
The post Indiana’s Latest Addition Makes Honest Admission on Caitlin Clark as She Sends Strong Message to Fever Nation appeared first on EssentiallySports.
