When half-time rolled in at Thursday night’s series decider against Phoenix Mercury, the Indiana Fever found themselves behind by six points. However, halfway through the third quarter, the Fever sparked a comeback, going on a 13-0 and later 11-0 stretch to win it. And for Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, the most game-changing play of the night came from rookie Mikayala Timpson.
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“I’ve never seen this happen in the W ever. Just filthy,” Sophie Cunningham, who recreated her viral moment with DeWanna Bonner after the win, wrote on X while reacting to the block.
Timpson’s impressive block came in the fourth quarter when the Fever, after taking the lead with their 13-0 run, found themselves behind by an even bigger margin. They trailed by 10 points and were desperately trying to fight their way back into the game.
With 4:17 left on the clock, Mercury star Kahleah Copper attacked the basket with hopes of extending Phoenix’s lead, but Makayla Timpson had other plans. Indiana’s 23-year-old backup forward tracked Copper perfectly down the lane, elevated above the rim, and pinned her shot directly against the backboard to secure the possession for the Fever.
Sophie Cunningham was so excited after the win that she responded to the Mercury fans by recreating her pointing gesture. On June 22, 2026, Cunningham went viral when she pointed at Bonner for 22 seconds straight during a verbal altercation regarding a foul call.
During this game, the fans at Phoenix decided to use that same gesture against Cunningham after the refs called her for an offensive foul. However, when the Fever won Cunninghman turned.
However, the Fever guard wasn’t the only one who praised Timpson’s effort in the paint. Indiana’s coach was equally impressed.
Stephanie White hailed Makayla Timpson’s block as the defining turning point in Fever’s comeback win
It wasn’t only Sophie Cunningham who recognized the significance of Makayla Timpson’s incredible block. Fever head coach Stephanie White did as well. Speaking during the postgame press conference, it was one of the first moments she highlighted while reflecting on the comeback victory.
“That hell of a block that she had that started on the defensive end of the floor. I mean those big-time plays give you a little juice,” White said.
And as White said, that block literally gave the Fever some juice, but not in any way a little bit. Immediately following the rejection, Kelsey Mitchell knocked down a transition three-pointer. The defensive stop fueled an immediate 8-0 run, setting the stage for Mitchell to score the game-winning layup with 10 seconds remaining.
That block was not a buzzer-beating shot or a miraculous half-court heave. However, it perfectly encapsulated the resilience Indiana’s squad displayed throughout the clash.