The Minnesota Lynx have defied expectations this season, and they have now signed a 2024 WNBL scoring champion to an already terrific roster. After losing Napheesa Collier to dual ankle injuries last season, it was believed the Lynx would struggle this season. However, they are at the top of the standings with a 31-9 record thanks to a standout year by rookie Olivia Miles. The Lynx have even more reasons to cheer, as Aari McDonald now joins the squad.

On Monday, September 7, the Lynx announced they had signed guard McDonald, while waiving guard Eliška Joklová to make space. The guard opened up about the process of joining the Lynx, per Minnesota reporter Andrew Dukowitz on X.

“Of course, being out for so long, you want to land on a team. I didn’t have my sights set to play this season, but I was working my b*** off regardless and I was healthy, and I started talking to Cheryl (Reeve), and everything happened so fast. Again, I’m blessed to be here.”

The 5-foot-6 guard heads to Minnesota fresh off a 2025 campaign with the Indiana Fever, where she played her last game on August 7, 2025. Over the last season, she posted 9.8 points on 42.9% shooting, 4.7 assists, and 2.4 rebounds across 20 appearances while making 13 starts.

McDonald was shooting 30.8% from three for the Fever last season till an injury ruled her out. Her run was cut short by a right foot injury that cost her the last 13 games and the subsequent Unrivaled campaign. She has not played the entirety of the 2026 season either.

McDonald can prove to be of great value for this Lynx team looking to add depth heading into the playoffs. Her July 30 showdown last season against the Phoenix Mercury, when she erupted for 27 points, shooting 7-of-11 from the floor, a flawless 10-of-10 from the FT line, four assists, and two steals to spearhead a 107–101 victory, serves as a reminder of what she can bring to the table.

Originally drafted third overall by Atlanta in 2021, McDonald, a Fresno native, spent three years with the Atlanta Dream before suiting up for the Los Angeles Sparks. Over five seasons in the WNBA, McDonald has averaged 8.8 points, 3.1 assists, and a steal per contest on 39.5% shooting.

Head coach Cheryl Reeve also opened up about the decision to sign McDonald, per Minnesota Star Tribune reporter Cassidy Hettesheimer on X.

“We felt like she was about as good as a prospect we could have to improve our situation. We needed a player that we felt like we could put in the game in playoffs, and experienced. As much as we enjoyed [Eliška], [she] just simply doesn’t have the experience in the W, let alone in playoffs. And so it’s an opportunity that we felt like it was worth taking a swing at.”

The Lynx probably won’t rely on McDonald to shoulder a heavy burden and will be a rotational piece. This is largely because rookie Olivia Miles already has taken the playmaking responsibilities, allowing McDonald to serve as a high-value complementary piece. Miles currently leads the Lynx in scoring and assists despite the team boasting veterans like Kayla McBride, Collier, and Natasha Howard. Even WNBA legend Diana Taurasi has endorsed Olivia Miles as a “special talent”.

Olivia Miles is not only leading the race for Rookie of the Year, but her name is being mentioned in the MVP conversations as well. She is averaging 19.7 points, 6 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game this season. Led by Miles, the Lynx have emerged as a legitimate contender for the 2026 WNBA championship with a record of 31-9 with only four regular-season games left.

As the Lynx make a push for the playoffs and the championship, head coach Cheryl Reeve’s name cropped up in the WNBA Commissioner conversation when she addressed the media in a press conference posted to the Lynx YouTube channel. She made a surprising admission in that regard.

Cheryl Reeve Refuses to Be Considered for the WNBA Commissioner Job

While the search for the new WNBA commissioner continues, Cheryl Reeve has underlined that being the league commissioner is no easy task, as she ruled herself out of the job.

“Most people don’t know the full scope of a commissioner’s job, and I think that there’s a lot of boxes maybe the person, an ideal person, could check,” Reeve said after Monday’s practice session.

For Reeve, the job carries much more than being an expert in just one field, with the job requiring the person at the helm to be multi-faceted at times.

“So you can’t just be a business person. You can’t just be a relationship person…You don’t necessarily make a lot of friends along the way. That’s not the point. But you have to have the ability to collaborate and connect with people, and to do your job, and to sort of steward the path of the WNBA. ”

Reeve also made it clear that she has no interest in being the WNBA commissioner, indicating that she does not have the requisites for the job when asked if she would ever consider the Commissioner job.

“Absolutely not. I have none of those things.” Reeve said.

The WNBA regular season resumes on September 18, and the Lynx will hope to lock down the first seed as they take on the New York Liberty in their first game after the World Cup break. With Olivia Miles and now Aari McDonald on the roster, the dream of making a deep postseason run is becoming more of a reality for the Lynx.