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Heading into this season, the Indiana Fever were limited to just 11 roster spots due to salary cap constraints. One of those coveted slots went to the 19th overall pick, Makayla Timpson. She managed to beat out four other players for the 11th and final spot. That included fellow draftees Bree Hall and Yvonne Ejim and training camp players Jaelyn Brown and Jillian Alleyne. It was a big night for her indeed.

What made it even special was that upon knowing about it, the first people she called were her parents. “They’re always in the loop for everything,” Timpson said. “Those are my two biggest supporters … my dad, he was just laughing, they’re all super excited. I’m the first pro in the family, so it means a lot to me.” That simple call says a lot about their bond and the role they’ve played in her journey.

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Who is the mother of Makayla Timpson?

Makayla Timpson’s mother is Rena Timpson. She went to Calhoun County High School and then studied at the Albany Technical College. As of April 2, 2025, she lives in Edison, Georgia, according to her Facebook profile. Earlier, Rena Timpson used to work at Brooks Dental Associates, Inc. She is originally from Edison, Georgia, which is also where Makayla was born on Sept. 20, 2002.

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Rena’s influence on Timpson went far beyond being just a supportive parent. She helped instill discipline, focus, and attention to detail that translated directly to the court. As reported by PFSN, Rena taught Makayla to always be “on the swivel.” She had a huge impact on Makayla’s basketball IQ development. But she wasn’t shaping her alone…

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Who is the father of Makayla Timpson?

“My parents have come to every basketball game there has been,” said Makayla. However, her father, Eric Timpson, played an even special role in her life. “My dad coached me out in the yard and rode the bicycle while I ran a mile around the block. My parents are like my second coaches, and they have supported me since recreational basketball.” 

Eric is a pastor at Covenant Word Ministries’ Sunday worship services. As Makayla shared, he was also her first coach, long before the bright lights, right in their backyard. He played just as big a role in her development as Rena Timpson.

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What is Makayla Timpson’s parents’ nationality?

Makayla Timpson’s parents, Rena and Eric Timpson, are American. Whereas they have some roots in rural Georgia. That even helped shape their hands-on approach. As for their ethnicity, many people assume that they are of African-American descent; however, there is no confirmation of that yet. Talking about their religious beliefs, Eric’s ties to the Covenant Word Ministries show that they are most likely practicing Christians.

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Their faith has played a huge role in shaping her ethics and personality early on, and the results speak for themselves. Makayla Timpson’s final season at Florida State was an absolute delight. In 131 career games (101 starts), she racked up great numbers. She had 1,706 points, 1,094 rebounds, and 290 blocks. Her 38-point outburst against Samford even tied for the third-highest scoring performance in program history!

The dominant forward rewrote the record books. She set new program marks for career rebounds, career double-doubles (46), and single-season blocks (103). All of it while leading all Power Four players with 3.12 blocks per game. With multiple All-ACC selections and national award recognition, Timpson then arrived at the 2025 WNBA Draft as one of the most polished, complete prospects available.

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And now she’s a part of the Indiana Fever when she’s finding her groove real quick because the fans are demanding only the best from her. Stay tuned to know more as her career goes on.

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Written by

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Shourima Mishra

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Shourima Mishra is a Basketball Writer at EssentiallySports, recruited through the outlet’s Young Talent Hunt to join the fast-paced WNBA desk. With a knack for decoding coaching systems and the rhythm of in-game adjustments, she reports on how strategy and chemistry shape outcomes beyond the scoreboard. Her work stands out for its clear editorial sharpness, honed in a digital-first newsroom where speed and precision walk hand in hand. Before stepping into sports journalism, Shourima built her voice through debating, Model UN leadership, and an early focus on communication-driven roles, a background that fuels her confident, analytical style today. On the WNBA beat, she cuts past surface storylines and digs into the tactical shifts reshaping the women’s game, giving readers fresh insight into a league that continues to redefine basketball itself.

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Shreya Singh

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