Just four games in, the Indiana Fever faced their biggest challenge– Caitlin Clark was down with a right quad strain. Some more games in, and the team quickly lost Sophie Cunningham and Sydney Colson for the next few games. Fortunately, just then, HC Stephanie White brought in Aari McDonald on a 7-day hardship contract. Despite it being her very first stint in Indy, the former LA Sparks guard seemed to fit right in. Fast forward to DeWanna Bonner’s waiver and McDonald’s one more stint for Indy, White knew who to bring in with Clark still on the injury list.

McDonald already knew the offense. She came in and helped boost the roster from the get-go. Kelsey Mitchell, who lost her partner on the floor in Clark for an unspecified time, already knew, “this is our blessing in disguise… We always tell her we appreciate her because our season was all over the place.”

However, in Fever’s 95-60 road loss to the Phoenix Mercury, McDonald, too, went down with a season-ending broken right foot bone. Indiana still bounced back in a dominant 92-70 win over the Chicago Sky yesterday. No wonder, the more-than-merry locker room had an announcement from the HC. And McDonald, who truly feels at home in Indy, wanted to celebrate the win.

Sharing the official Indiana Fever post on her X account, McDonald tweeted, “Great team win tonight!” In the video, a jubilant Indiana crew announced various records the team broke. But first came White’s post-win speech. She told her squad, “You did a really, really good job. And that’s something we’re going to have to continue to utilize, right? We did a great job overall. 11 offensive rebounds, we out-scored them on second-chance points, 21 assists on 33 made field goals. Shot distribution was really good. Just, overall, a strong team effort. 

“We’ve talked about it earlier, we’re resilient, and we’re deep. And both of those things allow us to do some things other people might not think we can, right? We are bigger. We are greater than the me. No doubt about it!”

McDonald first joined the Fever through the hardship exception after injuries to Clark, Sophie Cunningham, and Sydney Colson. She wasted no time making an impact, averaging 11 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals while shooting 42.8% from the field and 36.6% from deep in her first three games. While flying to Indy for the first time, McDonald revealed she studied the offensive plays for the team throughout the flight. White, of course, was impressed.

The HC had already praised her, “I have continued to be impressed with just how quickly she immersed herself into our team and fit in right away. She’s a student of the game. She studies it. She knew the offenses before she landed. She just has been a great fit for us. I also love her accountability on the floor. She’s a player who takes ownership and has really stepped in and led our team in a really great way.” 

As a result, after she made two returns to Indiana, with the final one being hers to stay. Since returning, she’d been nothing short of a game-changer for the Fever. That career-high 27-point explosion against the Mercury last week was all the proof you needed. In her last five games alone, McDonald racked up 70 points, 15 rebounds, and 28 assists, cementing herself as one of the most important players on the team.

Moving forward, the Fever will have to navigate the rest of the season without their spark plug guard. The question is, how much more can Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston, who combined for 41 points, over 44% of the team total, tonight, carry this team? Although the team is much deeper than it was last season, White will soon have to find a solution to one looming question in every loyal Indiana fan’s mind.

Who can replace Aari McDonald for the Fever?

It’s been almost a month since Clark’s sideline report due to a groin injury, but there is still no official update on her return. And now with both Colson and McDonald out injured, the Fever are left with no point guard. So, who could they possibly go for?

Well, there are a few hardship options the Fever can look into. The first name that comes to mind is that of Bree Hall. The South Carolina Gamecocks guard was drafted by Indiana this year before being waived on May 5. She’s since had a short stint with the Golden State Valkyries, but her familiarity with the Fever’s system could make her a strong candidate for a return.

Another option currently available on the market is Odyssey Sims. The 2019 WNBA All-Star was recently waived by the Sparks after missing several games due to “personal issues.” Before her release, Sims was averaging 9.8 points, 3.5 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 0.8 steals, making her a potential replacement for Aari McDonald.

The Fever already has Chloe Bibby on a 7-day hardship contract since July 25. White brought her in specifically to aid in the team’s offense while Clark was out. But at this point, they again have three players out. White might want to bring in someone to continue the momentum. Who do you think would end up replacing the injured players? Do let us know in the comments down below!