Natasha Howard Sends Clear Message on Caitlin Clark’s Replacement

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Robert Marvi | Last updated Aug 4, 2025 9:07 PM ET

Caitlin Clark is still unable to return to the Indiana Fever's lineup due to a stubborn groin strain she suffered a few weeks ago. She has now missed seven consecutive games, and there is still no timetable for her return.

Yet, the Fever continue to win games without arguably the WNBA's biggest and most recognizable star. On Sunday, they got past the Seattle Storm, 78-74, securing their fifth consecutive win and their eighth victory in their last 10 games.

From time to time, a different member of the Fever is stepping up and carrying a good amount of the offensive load with Clark out. On Sunday, it was forward Natasha Howard who led them in scoring with 21 points on 10-of-12 shooting from the field.

But an unsung hero has also stepped up lately — Aari McDonald.

Aari McDonald May Be a Diamond in the Rough

Indiana signed McDonald as a free agent in early June after she was waived by the Los Angeles Sparks. She had been the No. 3 pick in the 2021 WNBA Draft after a successful college stint at Arizona, but she hadn't panned out to that point in her pro career.

But, of late, she may have found a home with the Fever. She had nine points and nine assists versus Seattle, and on Wednesday, she tallied 27 points on 7-of-11 field-goal shooting and made all 10 of her free-throw attempts versus the Phoenix Mercury.

Howard gave McDonald a shoutout on X for her fine play of late, and wrote, "nothing you do goes unnoticed."

nothing you do goes unnoticed

#2 https://t.co/APutEL2N7L
— NATASHA HOWARD ⚡️FLASH⚡️ (@THoward_6) August 4, 2025

McDonald has replaced the injured Clark in the Fever's starting lineup, and over the last seven games, she has averaged 12.1 points on 46.7% field-goal shooting, 5.4 assists and 1.9 steals a game.

She stands just 5-foot-6, but she plays bigger than that, and she has also infused the Fever with some defensive intensity and prowess.

Could Clark’s Injury Be a Blessing in Disguise?

Whenever a star player goes out with an injury, it can always be an opportunity for at least one player deep in the rotation or a player buried on the bench to show the ability to play at a high level.

That seems to be exactly what is happening with McDonald lately. Indiana originally signed her when Clark and a few others were out due to injury, and if it weren't for those injuries, McDonald may not have gotten playing time on a team or even been picked up by a team to begin with.

But she has stepped up, and others, such as Howard, guard Sophie Cunningham and All-Star guard Kelsey Mitchell have also raised their games. This can only help the Fever down the stretch, especially once Clark is back to full health.

The team currently has a 17-12 record, which is the WNBA's fifth-best mark.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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