WNBA point guard Aari McDonald found herself on the move after a tumultuous offseason, but her skills have finally led to a new opportunity. After starting her career with the Los Angeles Sparks, McDonald was released from her contract in free agency and eventually landed a hardship contract with the Indiana Fever.
McDonald’s decision to sign with the Fever came at a crucial time for the team, as they were without star guard Caitlin Clark due to a quadriceps injury. With Clark out, the Fever needed a point guard who could provide ball pressure on defense and set up teammates on offense. McDonald delivered in her first appearance, playing 23 minutes and scoring seven points while posting three steals and five assists.
Fever coach Stephanie White praised McDonald’s performance, saying “Aari was terrific. She came in and she was the ultimate point guard. She got us settled when we needed to.” McDonald has averaged 11 points, three assists, and two steals per game for the Fever over her past three games, making 38% of her 3-point attempts.
However, McDonald’s future with the Fever remains uncertain due to Clark’s impending return. A hardship contract requires teams to roster fewer than 10 players, so Indiana cannot retain Clark. The team may choose to cut Sydney Colson or Brianna Turner to keep McDonald on their roster, but if they don’t make any moves, it could create cap space for a potential reunion in July.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding her future with the Fever, McDonald has continued to impress other teams. She scored 12 points against the Chicago Sky and is being scouted by the Dallas Wings due to an injury to their point guard Ty Harris. With her defensive acumen and playmaking skills, McDonald could find herself on a similar path as Monique Billings and Odyssey Sims, who both used hardship contracts to secure new deals.
For now, McDonald has put herself in “survivor mode,” saying “This is my job, so just gotta be ready, gotta leave it all out on the court. This is an audition.” With her skills on full display for the Fever, it’s clear that McDonald will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the WNBA.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6419548/2025/06/12/caitlin-clark-injury-return-aari-mcdonald-wnba