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WNBA Team Releases Unexpected Player Days Before New Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Rodney Knuppel | Last updated May 15, 2025 1:20 AM ET

The start of the WNBA regular season is just around the corner, and excitement is building fast. Teams are finalizing their rosters and making final preparations for the 44-game regular season grind.

Every franchise is looking to dethrone the New York Liberty, who captured the championship last season. The 2025 campaign promises plenty of drama and excitement, and the news cycle hasn’t slowed down.

On Wednesday evening, the Los Angeles Sparks surprised fans with an unexpected roster move, posting this message:

"Thank you, Aari, for all your contributions to the Sparks!"

Thank you, Aari, for all your contributions to the Sparks! pic.twitter.com/7bV4YFlHwL
— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) May 15, 2025

The message referred to Aari McDonald, who was a key contributor off the bench for Los Angeles during the early part of last season. Unfortunately, injuries to her foot and ankle limited her to just 26 games. During those games, she made 10 starts and played 21.8 minutes per game.

McDonald, 26, is a Fresno, California, native. She began her college career at Washington before transferring to Arizona, where she became a standout. She was selected third overall in the 2021 WNBA Draft by the Atlanta Dream. During her rookie season, she earned a spot on the WNBA All-Rookie Team and played with the Dream through the 2023 season.

The Sparks struggled last year, managing only eight wins in the regular season. In the offseason, they hired Lynne Roberts as their new head coach. Roberts, 49, is stepping into her first professional role after coaching at the University of Utah from 2015 to 2024.

Los Angeles will open its season on Friday night on the road against Golden State. The Sparks' first home game is set for May 18 when they host the Minnesota Lynx.

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

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