Indiana Fever News

Home

Quizzes

Newsletter

Indiana Fever guard Aari McDonald (2) celebrates Tuesday, June 3, 2025, during a game between the Indiana Fever and the Washington Mystics at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

'I Told Her She Is 1-0': Caitlin Clark’s Replacement Gets Good Impression From Teammates Including Aliyah Boston, Lexi Hull

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Dan Agulto | Last updated Jun 4, 2025 9:04 AM ET

Caitlin Clark’s absence in the Indiana Fever’s win over the Washington Mystics on Tuesday turned out to be both a challenge and an unexpected revelation—especially with 5-foot-6 Aari McDonald stepping in as her stand-in spark.

Signed to a hardship contract, McDonald made her debut for the Fever and wasted no time making a difference. She played with grit on both ends of the floor and helped the Fever snap a three-game losing streak with an 85-76 win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

McDonald finished the game with seven points, five assists, and three steals, providing the kind of defensive energy and ball movement the team had been searching for. While Lexie Hull led the scoring charge with a career-high 31 points—14 of which came in the second half—McDonald’s presence brought balance and poise to the team.

“It was huge. I told her she is 1-0 so she gotta keep that run going,” Hull said after the game. “We needed her out there. She was huge on defense, huge drawing offensive fouls. I’m just so proud of her, and I’m happy she’s here.”

As Clark inches closer to returning, Aari McDonald has already proven she belongs—and the Fever may have found a hidden gem right when they needed one most.

May 31, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever players Aliyah Boston (left), Lexie Hull and Caitlin Clark are in attendance during game six of the eastern conference finals between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston Celebrate McDonald’s Defensive Hustle

One moment that fired up both the Fever bench and the crowd came late in the second quarter. With 27 seconds left in the first half, McDonald locked in on Mystics guard Brittney Sykes. The defensive pressure escalated until McDonald absorbed a hard hit to the chest and fell to the floor—drawing a crucial offensive foul.

LOOK: Caitlin Clark Asks Teammate To Throw T-Shirt To A Bucks Fan's Face 5 Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston (7) celebrates with Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) altering recording a triple-double Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever defeated the Los Angeles Sparks, 93-86.

Caitlin Clark, sidelined due to injury, celebrated by pointing toward the Fever bench, while Aliyah Boston saluted McDonald’s effort—literally. The moment was a perfect snapshot of McDonald’s impact on a night when the Fever needed grit more than flash.

Jun 3, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull (10) celebrates with Indiana Fever guard Aari McDonald (2) during a game between the Indiana Fever and the Washington Mystics at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Mandatory Credit: Grace Smth- INDIANAPOLIS STAR-Imagn Images

McDonald, a former standout at Arizona, spent three seasons with the Atlanta Dream before joining the LA Sparks in 2024. Across four WNBA seasons, she’s averaged 8.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game—but Tuesday’s debut with the Fever showed she might have more to give.

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: