“The most important thing for us is to not position ourselves to have any setbacks.” Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White has been patiently waiting for her two formidable players to return to the hardwood. And while superstar Caitlin Clark and newcomer Sophie Cunningham have been participating in practice sessions, the HC wants them to recuperate completely. After all, if the injuries resurface during the live game, it can pose a grave threat to the roster. But maybe the HC couldn’t save the roster from a major setback.

While we all are aware of Fever’s condition after Caitlin Clark was benched this season. The 2024 ROTY was having a spectacular sophomore run with Fever before succumbing to a sprain in the left quadriceps. And as she left the active roster, so did the team’s confidence and hopes of winning. As Aliyah Boston and others drowned in losses, another tragedy befell the locker room. Sophie Cunningham too was sidelined after suffering a right ankle injury. And in their absence, the HC had no choice but to sign free agent, Aari McDonald.

Despite uncertainty surrounding Caitlin Clark’s return to the active roster anytime soon, national analyst Rachel DeMita hinted at a ray of hope for HC Stephanie White’s roster. She referred to the hardship contract signee, Aari McDonald and assessed her performance against Atlanta Dream. “She’s fitting in great! She again had a great game against the Atlanta Dream,” Rachel DeMita said. “At this point in time, it is not a fluke at how well Aari McDonald is playing. And I do hope the Indiana Fever figure out a way to keep her.”

While the team suffered a massive 19-point blow against Atlanta Dream on Tuesday, one player stood out from the rest. Aari McDonald. The point guard scored 14 points, 1 rebound, and 2 assists in the recent game against the Dream as Natasha Howard delivered 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Fever. The point guard showcased her stellar defensive prowess during her first game in the roster. And did not look back since.

“She’s going out there and she’s just hooping. And because of that, she’s able to play a faster style of basketball,” the analyst claimed. “She’s getting it done on both ends of the court. It’s almost like she’s not trapped in this: ‘what do I do on offence, what do I do do on defence’. She’s just hooping and that’s what I wish the Indiana Fever could do in general.” As a free agent, Aari is giving her everything at the hardwood. She is above the locker room politics and does not fear the need to be perceived in a certain manner. With no pre-conceived notions before the game, McDonald steps in to fulfil her duties as a guard for Fever.

Moreover, McDonald not only revitalized the slow team but filled them with a new vigor and energy. McDonald impressed White and her teammates as she bolstered Fever towards a victory. Twice. Moreover, she is associated with a team that has a potential to get in the playoffs this season. But with more losses piling up, is this an indication for Fever’s doom or just another hiccup along the way? Guess, we’ll have to wait until Clark returns.

Aliyah Boston follows footsteps of her teammate

Though Indiana Fever suffered another crushing defeat at the behest of Atlanta Dream on Tuesday with a 77-58 loss on the scoreboard, they still had a reason to celebrate. And no, it was not Natasha Howard or Kelsey Mitchell for their scoring prowess. Instead, it was the center athlete Aliyah Boston.

We have seen how Boston significantly suffered from Caitlin Clark’s absence, where she failed to dish double digit points or move around in the paint. And it the same Aliyah Boston that achieved a career milestone despite the 2024 ROTY’s absence. The athlete provided her final assist to Kelsey Mitchell, who shot from 17-feet during the third quarter of the Fever-Dream game.

This fifth dime of Tuesday evening marked a career high for Boston, as she completed 250 assists. Not just that, she followed in footsteps of her teammate and friend, Clark, who was the fastest player to reach 250 assists in just 31 games. Having said that, Boston secured the second place as the fastest player to dish out 250 assists in 89 games.

It is a remarkable record for the center player, especially because unlike Clark, Boston is not really a facilitator by nature. She is typically meant for pick and rolls and scoring. But surpassing even veterans like Alyssa Thomas is a huge feat in itself. Moreover, the Phoenix Mercury player leads in assists this season. But it took Thomas a total of 95 games to reach the mark.

While Indiana Fever revels in this victory, they have other bigger challenges to tend. As they prepare to face New York liberty in game two, can they avenge the 90-88 loss and give Liberty a taste of their own medicine? The revamped Fever roster with Aari McDonald has the power to dominate the veterans and grab the much-deserved win.