As the Indiana Fever prepare to tip off their 2025 WNBA campaign, rookie forward Makayla Timpson has officially earned her place on the opening day roster to help Caitlin Clark. The Fever made their final roster cut on Tuesday, waiving 26-year-old guard Jaelyn Brown. Brown, acquired from Dallas in a four-team trade earlier this year, was on a training camp contract and ultimately did not make the final cut.
Timpson, Indiana’s first pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft at No. 19 out of Florida State, impressed the coaching staff during training camp and preseason play. Fever head coach Stephanie White praised her poise, defensive ability, and maturity on the court. “She plays with great pace as a young player,” White said. “She doesn’t try to force things; she allows the game to come to her.” The forward’s ability to contribute efficiently in the post made her a logical choice to remain with the team.
The Fever are heading into the season with 11 players, the league minimum, due to salary cap constraints. While they could have carried 12, financial limitations played a role in keeping the roster at 11. Timpson will serve as key frontcourt depth behind starters Aliyah Boston and Natasha Howard, alongside backups Damiris Dantas and Brianna Turner. The decision to keep Timpson over Brown was also influenced by roster structure-Indiana opted to balance its lineup by maintaining five forwards and six guards.
A new way of shaping things up
Another factor in Indiana’s decision was financial planning. Timpson signed a four-year rookie-scale contract with the Fever, earning $69,267 in 2025, with gradual increases each year until 2028. With the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement set to be renegotiated in 2026, the Fever may benefit from having a rookie on a structured contract rather than dealing with the uncertainty of future salary adjustments. Brown, on the other hand, would have been a one-year player on a minimum salary, set to be an exclusive rights free agent in 2026 under new terms dictated by the upcoming CBA.
Timpson’s addition to the roster not only provides depth but also aligns with the Fever’s long-term outlook. Indiana is in the midst of a rebuild, looking to bolster a young core led by former No. 1 pick Aliyah Boston. The organization has emphasized player development, and Timpson’s skill set and approach to the game fit well into that strategy. Her ability to contribute without disrupting offensive flow could make her an asset off the bench this season.
With training camp wrapped up and roster decisions finalized, the Fever will open their season on Saturday. All eyes will be on Timpson as she transitions from promising rookie to key rotational player in Indiana’s frontcourt. If her preseason performance is any indication, she has the potential to make an immediate impact.
Read the full article here
