Stephanie White snubs Fever rookie amid Caitlin Clark's injury (and fans are upset)

The Indiana Fever played their first game since Caitlin Clark's quad injury on Wednesday night and it didn't go exactly as planned. While there were flashes of brilliance for the team, the Fever ultimately fell to the Washington Mystics, 83-77.

One loss in an entire WNBA season isn't going to make or break the Fever. Fans were more interested about what the team would look like (especially with several new pieces) without Clark on the floor. There was a noticeable difference, but there still were some positive takeaways.

Some fans were hoping that Clark's absence would create an opportunity for rookie Makalya Timpson. Timpson was selected with the No. 19 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft and was high on the Fever draft board before being selected.

Timpson logged less than one full minute despite Clark's absence, coming in at the very end of the game in garbage time. This didn't sit well with some Fever fans, who want the team to "free Timpson" and give her more playing time.

Fever are right to limit Makayla Timpson while Caitlin Clark is injured

Not every Fever fan wants the first-round pick to see an influx of minutes with Clark out, but there may be a passionate portion of the fanbase calling for this change. While it's understandable, especially considering how great Timpson looked in college, the Fever are doing the right thing here.

Indiana is still a legitimate title contender and needs to throw out the best rotations possible to win games while Clark is out. It would be one thing if the Fever didn't have the high ceiling the team has this season. If that was the case, playing a rookie for her development would make far more sense.

That simply isn't the position the Fever are in and it's clear Stephanie White doesn't think Timpson is a better rotation option. Who are we to question White's analysis, especially considering she is the one closest to these players every single day.

That's not to say Timpson is a bad player and won't develop into a legitimate rotation piece with time. She's a rookie with no WNBA experience under her belt. She's raw. It's White's responsibility to throw out the best rotation even with Clark out. TImpson is not part of that.

Plus, Clark's injury doesn't seem as if it's overly serious. Clark may only miss 4-5 games in total so keeping the rotation as consistent as possible is key. It doesn't make in sense in the grand scheme to completely upend the rotation only to revert back to Timpson not playing once Clark is back.

Timpson will get her extended chance to show what she can do in the WNBA. Fever fans just need to remain patient.