It didn’t take long for DeWanna Bonner to make history in Indiana. She pulled up and got straight to business. First, she slid up to third on the all-time WNBA scoring list. Then, as if that wasn’t legendary enough, in the next game against Atlanta, she grabbed a rebound and climbed to eighth all-time in rebounds. But even with all that greatness, Bonner’s been kind of under the radar lately. She went from starting to coming off the bench, so naturally, fans were worried. And now comes another update. 

The vet missed the last two days of practice, and head coach Stephanie White made it clear, saying, “I don’t anticipate her being here Saturday.” With those words, any hopes of seeing Bonner suit up were quickly shut down. And now, officially, Bonner is out for the Fever’s matchup against the New York Liberty at Gainbridge Fieldhouse due to personal reasons.

While the details haven’t been made public, it’s clear the team is giving her space. “I think she’s doing as well as she can be right now,” White shared on Friday. “We’re going to continue to support her and give her the time that she needs.” Bonner being out hurts Indiana’s depth, especially since she’s been a steady presence even in her new bench role. She’s averaging 7.1 points and 3.8 rebounds over 21.3 minutes per game. So with her sitting out, the Fever’s bench production might take a bit of a hit.

But thankfully, two big names are back. Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham are both expected to return. Clark had been sidelined with a quad strain she picked up in that last game against the Liberty on May 24. Meanwhile, Cunningham’s been recovering from an ankle injury she got during preseason. Their return couldn’t have come at a better time, as Indiana is seriously struggling without them. 

Clark, as we know, is the engine of this team. Without her, the offense looked lost, slow-paced, had fewer assists, and not much creativity. Cunningham, on the other hand, brings grit and energy. Her defense is relentless, and when she gets hot from beyond the arc, she’s a game-changer. So while they’re not 100% just yet, getting both Clark and Cunningham back is a huge boost. It’s been tough watching this team try to find rhythm without key players, but maybe this is the game they start clicking again. 

Still, fans aren’t just watching the court. There’s been a little bit of noise around the roster, too. While Clark and Cunningham’s return is cause for celebration, some are also raising eyebrows over recent roster moves.

Aari McDonald made her mark, but the roster rules had other plans

For the first time in her basketball career, Aari McDonald found herself on the wrong side of roster cuts. Ahead of the 2025 WNBA season opener, the Los Angeles Sparks trimmed down their roster, and McDonald didn’t make the cut. It was tough. One day, she was prepping for the season, the next she was living out of a suitcase, unsure of what came next.

“It felt weird every day waking up not being in the gym or just being around my teammates,” McDonald said. “But I mean, my approach is, stay ready. You never know when you’ll get the call.” That call did come. On June 1, the Indiana Fever signed Aari to an emergency hardship contract. The team was running short with only nine game-available players. So, the Fever brought in Aari to help out. And she didn’t waste a single minute. In just three games with the Fever, McDonald averaged 11 points, 3 assists, and 1.3 rebounds in over 25 minutes per game. 

That’s impressive, especially for someone thrown into a new system on such short notice. She brought energy off the bench, helped run the offense, and gave fans something to cheer for while the team’s stars were healing. McDonald fit in like she’d been with the team all season. It felt like a perfect match. 

Fans loved her, teammates respected her, and the coaching staff praised her effort. But on Friday, the Fever had to let her go. Why? Well, WNBA teams can only roster 11 players due to the salary cap. Indiana was allowed to sign McDonald because they were down to nine healthy players, triggering a hardship exception. But now that Clark and Cunningham are back, the Fever are up to 10 players again, and that means the hardship contract had to be automatically terminated. It’s part of the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement. 

Fever head coach Stephanie White had nothing but praise for McDonald. “She’s gonna find a spot, I don’t think that’s a debate right now. You know, she’s been the ultimate pro. She came in ready to go.” But you know, Indiana can still bring McDonald back on a standard contract. How? They have to wait 10 days due to another league rule. And even then, they’d need to cut someone with an unprotected contract and clear cap space.

On top of that, McDonald is now an unrestricted free agent, meaning any other team can sign her immediately. So, the clock is ticking. Will the Fever make room and bring her back? Or will another team scoop her up? Whatever happens, one thing’s clear: Aari McDonald made the most of her chance. Hope her next opportunity comes soon.