Aari McDonald was all smiles speaking with reporters on June 2 during an Indiana Fever shootaround.
The reason? The Fever had given her the first opportunity all season to get back on a WNBA court since being left unsigned by the Los Angeles Sparks following 2024.
“I was very anxious. Like, it felt weird sitting at home just watching the games this time of the year. But, when I got the call, I was very excited. Very blessed. It’s a humble experience to be able to join a team like the Fever. I was very excited and ready to compete, and just win,” said McDonald that day.
Maybe Fever fans didn’t know of the type of player they were suddenly getting in McDonald after losing superstar Caitlin Clark to injury, creating the need for a hardship signing at the beginning of June. Maybe the Fever themselves didn’t even know that they’d be getting such a dynamic guard in McDonald, who immediately made her presence felt with some of the best guard defense the team had seen all season long.
They know now. After some roster gymnastics that included being temporarily waived as players shuffled in and out of the lineup, McDonald has found a home in Indiana for the remainder of this season. This move was further cemented when Indiana defeated the league’s best team—the Minnesota Lynx—in the Commissioner’s Cup final.
McDonald had 12 points in that contest along with three rebounds, two blocks, and one steal. She wasn’t the game’s MVP—that honor went to Natasha Howard, who had a double double and was the team’s best answer to the Lynx’s severely talented frontcourt—but her insertion into the starting lineup amidst another Clark injury paid dividends (quite literally, with the bonus money awarded to Indiana). It’s hard to say what the result of the game would’ve been without McDonald playing 25 minutes in relief of Clark, but you’d have to imagine the defensive intensity simply wouldn’t have been the same.
McDonald’s resilience is a “feel good story.” She found a spot on a team in need of her help, made the absolute most of the opportunity and then some, and has now found a permanent home for the year. She’s forever a part of Indiana’s history as a Commissioner’s Cup winner, and as a starter on the team that beat the Lynx for that chip.
But, when reflecting on how McDonald even got here—fighting for a roster spot and a career in the WNBA despite her talent very obviously being worth a spot on a roster—it doesn’t leave as warm of a feeling in your body. The former third overall pick should not already be a “journeywoman” in the WNBA in just her fifth season.
Additionally, McDonald’s cut of the prize money won by the Fever—$500,000 dollars, which is far more than what team’s get for winning the WNBA Finals—could be prorated. Despite providing inimitable relief for the last several weeks as the team has dealt with Clark’s injury woes, she might not be seeing nearly as much money from that pool as she deserves. Despite that, McDonald told the Indy Star that she plans on making some sort of charitable donation with a portion of her winnings.
Regardless of the dollar amount, McDonald is a Commissioner’s Cup champion. It can’t be denied or taken away from her in the same way that a roster spot could. Her story should be a reminder to the league that the expansion of roster spots, something that the WNBA Players Association plans to advocate for in their negotiation with the league for a new CBA, could unveil new fan favorites across the league.
