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Stephanie White's Clear Plan for Fever Rookie Before Sparks Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated Jun 26, 2025 8:13 PM ET

The Indiana Fever entered Thursday's matchup against the Los Angeles Sparks at 7-7 on the season, good for third in the Eastern Conference and tied for sixth in the WNBA standings.

With the team searching for consistent rotations and defensive stability, coach Stephanie White confirmed before the game that rookie forward Makayla Timpson and veteran Brianna Turner will see expanded roles, filling in for veteran Damiris Dantas.

Dantas will be away representing Brazil at the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup for the next five games.

Dantas' absence is the latest in what has been a difficult stretch for the Fever, with key contributors like Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham having already missed several games as of late.

Steph White said pregame that both Bri Turner and Makayla Timpson will get some minutes with Damiris Dantas away from the team for the next five games.

“I think both of them will get good opportunities right now, being able to come in and make an impact.”
— Chloe Peterson (@chloepeterson67) June 26, 2025

Turner, a 6-foot-3 Notre Dame alum and WNBA veteran, was signed by Indiana in February to bolster the frontcourt after five seasons with the Phoenix Mercury and one with the Chicago Sky.

A two-time WNBA All-Defensive First Team selection (2020, 2021) and 2019 All-Rookie Team honoree, Turner brings elite shot-blocking (career 1.2 blocks per game) and rebounding (6.3 per game) to a young Fever squad.

Timpson, meanwhile, was selected 19th overall in the 2025 WNBA draft and arrives from Florida State after earning back-to-back first-team All-ACC honors and three consecutive ACC All-Defensive team selections.

During her senior season, Timpson averaged 17.5 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game, setting single-season program records in both rebounds (350) and blocks (103).

With Dantas away from the team, Thursday’s game against the Sparks serves as a litmus test for Indiana’s depth.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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