Embarrassing Viral Blunder Involving Caitlin Clark Reignites Amid Indiana Fever’s Emergency Hardship Exception Announcement

“The goal would be to get everybody back to their natural positions if we can. But at the same time, we can’t control everything, so we’ll get the best player that we can get.” These were the words of coach Stephanie White when asked how the team plans to improve with Caitlin Clark sidelined due to a left quadriceps injury. Her absence has been a massive setback. The Fever have dropped two straight games without their star, and it’s clear they’re missing her presence on the court. To make matters worse, their backcourt depth has taken a hit with both Colson and Cunningham out injured. The Fever organization has now made a new addition to the roster to help deal with the injury crisis.

But on Monday, the Fever made a crucial move. The team announced the signing of a temporary fill-in under the WNBA’s emergency hardship exception, a rule that lets teams add a player when injuries leave the roster thin. And the name caught everyone’s attention. It was none other than former LA Sparks guard Aari McDonald.

The 26-year-old Arizona alum came into the league with plenty of excitement. She was the number 3 overall pick in the 2021 WNBA Draft and carried high expectations from the jump. McDonald spent her first three seasons with the Atlanta Dream before joining the LA Sparks last season.

Known for her tenacious perimeter defense and quick decision-making as a point guard, Aari McDonald was a standout at Arizona, earning the 2021 Pac-12 Player of the Year and Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors. Her defensive prowess could provide a much-needed boost to the Fever, who have faced challenges on the defensive end in Caitlin Clark’s absence.

The moment the announcement dropped, social media lit up. Fans, reporters, and WNBA followers were quick to react. Let’s dive into some of the fan reactions

Fans react to Indiana Fever’s new signing after losing Caitlin Clark

Fans were excited to see McDonald join the team. But some quickly recalled the last time these two shared the court,  a moment that went viral across the WNBA world. One fan joked, “Just make sure she doesn’t run up to guard CC while she’s doing her recovery lol jk jk welcome to the team Aari!”

With just 2.7 seconds left in the first quarter of the May 28, 2024, game between the Sparks and the Fever, something unexpected happened. Aari McDonald stepped up to the free-throw line for two shots, including a technical free throw. She made the first one, but then things got bizarre. Instead of sticking around to take her second shot, McDonald turned and went to guard Caitlin Clark, completely forgetting she still had one more free throw to shoot. One fan asked,” Isn’t she the one after taking a free throw, forgot she had another one, and went back to cc.” Another fan couldn’t help but laugh, saying, “Iconic Aari McDonald. She stays at CC’s hip all game”

Over 116 WNBA games, McDonald has put up solid numbers. She averaged 8.6 points, 2.8 assists, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal per game, all while playing around 21.6 minutes each night. These stats show she’s a reliable contributor whenever she’s on the court. But some fans aren’t happy. “Fever fans will celebrate and throw parades over this terrible signing but start crying when we say we should bring in Chennedy Carter,” one fan commented.

It’s pretty clear the Fever fans had their eyes on former Sky guard Chennedy Carter. She led Chicago in scoring last season, averaging 17.5 points and 3.1 assists. But after her contract expired in 2024, no WNBA team picked her up. She was available as a free agent. Still, the Fever chose to go in a different direction, signing Aari McDonald instead.

But now, Chennedy Carter won’t be making a WNBA return anytime soon. As it turns out, she’s already committed elsewhere. One fan explained, “She can’t sign with any team in the WNBA because she’s already under contract playing in Mexico.” After facing what many believe was a quiet blacklisting from the W, Carter took her game overseas, signing with Adelitas de Chihuahua in Mexico’s Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional (LNBP) Femenil.

It’ll be interesting to see how Aari McDonald steps up in Caitlin Clark’s absence. With key players like Colson and Cunningham also out, her role could be bigger than expected. But once they return, how she fits into the rotation will be something to watch. For now, the focus is simple. To snap out of the three-game losing streak. Could this signing be the spark the Fever need ? Their next game against the Mystics will tell the story!