With injuries piling up, Fever sign guard who scored 33 vs. IUWBB in NCAA tournament
With injuries piling up to its backcourt, the Indiana Fever signed Aari McDonald via emergency hardship waiver.
Caitlin Clark is out until at least June 9 with a quadriceps strain, while Sophie Cunningham and Sydney Colson picked up injuries in the Fever's loss to Connecticut on Friday. That left the Fever with no true point guards and just two healthy guards: Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull.
The WNBA emergency hardship exception allows any team to sign a player, with immediate effect, if a team drops below 10 game-eligible players at any time. The Fever were down to eight healthy players due to the injuries, but also because they opened the season with one roster spot open because of salary cap restrictions.
McDonald has averaged 8.6 points, 2.8 assists and 2.0 rebounds per game over her four-year WNBA career. She played the 2024 season with Los Angeles and was drafted No. 3 overall by Atlanta in 2021. McDonald played for the Perth Lynx in Australia and led the league in scoring in 2023-24. The 2021 Pac-12 Player of the Year out of Arizona, she scored 33 points in the Wildcats' Elite Eight win over IU in the 2021 NCAA tournament.
The Fever host Washington on Tuesday, and McDonald will be eligible to play against the Mystics.
'We're down in numbers, but we're looking at adding another player, a replacement player, to help us with our numbers, and we'll try to get people healthy and try to get back to a full roster together,' Fever president Kelly Krauskopf said Sunday. 'I mean, games are still coming, so it's gonna be an adjustment, but we have a good group, and we have good depth, thankfully.'
Cunningham and Colson's MRIs were encouraging, and coach Stephanie White said they are 'day to day.' Neither participated in practice Sunday, but Colson was on the stationary bike during it and put up some shots after. Cunningham didn't practice at any portion, wearing slides as she came up to the court after practice was over.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Indiana Fever Make Caitlin Clark WNBA All-Star Announcement on Tuesday
Indiana Fever Make Caitlin Clark WNBA All-Star Announcement on Tuesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. After winning their last two games without All-WNBA guard Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever have jumped to 4-4 on the young 2025 WNBA season. Advertisement On Tuesday, the Fever will be without Clark for a fifth straight game, taking on Brittney Griner and the Atlanta Dream. In Indiana's fourth game of the season, a narrow 90-88 loss to the New York Liberty, Clark suffered a left quad strain that has left her out for over two weeks. Still, the former Iowa Hawkeyes guard is averaging 19.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 9.3 assists per game. Despite missing half of the Fever's games, Indiana announced just hours before Tuesday's matchup that fans can vote for Clark to make her second WNBA All-Star appearance, along with Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston. "⭐️ WNBA All-Star Voting June 12-28 ⭐️," the Fever wrote on X. "mark your calendars & set your alarms 🗳️ vote Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell into the @WNBA All-Star game starting Thursday at 2 p.m.!" The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game will take place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, home of the Fever, on Saturday, July 19, at 8:30 p.m. ET. Voting will begin on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. ET and end on Saturday, June 28, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Advertisement This year, fans will account for 50% of the All-Star voting, while players count for 25% and the media counts for the last 25%. The four guards and six frontcourt players who tally the most votes will earn starting spots. The two players with the most votes will be named captains of their team and will select the final 12 reserve spots. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22).Brett Davis-Imagn Images The Fever, without Clark and Sophie Cunningham (right ankle), will take on the Dream on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET. Then, they will get Sabrina Ionescu and the New York Liberty on Saturday afternoon. Related: Fever Coach Stephanie White Issues Apology Amid Caitlin Clark Injury This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
WNBA Star Alyssa Thomas' Strong Statement to Future Wife on Indiana Fever
The Indiana Fever started their 2025 WNBA season with a win against the Chicago Sky on Saturday in Indianapolis, with a final score of 93-58. Veteran DeWanna Bonner had an incredible night. Not only did she contribute to the dominant victory with seven points, bringing her career total to 7,489, but she also moved her into the Top 3 all-time in WNBA scoring. She sits behind retired legend Diana Taurasi, who scored 10,646 points during her career and the Connecticut Sun's Tina Charles, who has scored 7,696 points so far. Advertisement Meanwhile, in Phoenix, Arizona, the Phoenix Mercury defeated the Seattle Storm on the same night during their season opener, with a score of 81-59. In a press conference, Mercury forward and Bonner's fiancée, Alyssa Thomas, told sports writer Jeff Metcalfe about her thoughts on her fiancée's achievement after the game. Sports journalist Hayden Cilley posted the video to X on Saturday night. "I'm super proud of her. I've been along for the ride as she moved up the ranks. I know how much it means to her," Thomas responded. "It's unheard of to be Top 3 [in scoring]. That speaks so much to what she does and what she's about. I wish I could have been there to witness it." Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas (25) celebrates her shot with forward DeWanna Bonner (24) during the first half against the Minnesota Lynx of game one of the 2024 WNBA Semi-finalsMatt Krohn-Imagn Images Essence reported that the couple has been dating for over four years. The WNBA stars knew of each other because they are both in the basketball world and had mutual friends, but didn't start dating until Bonner signed with the Connecticut Sun in 2020. They got engaged during the 2023 WNBA All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas. Related: Caitlin Clark Sends Strong Message on DeWanna Bonner's Character After Fever Practice
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Mercury Receive Good News Before Wings, Paige Bueckers Game
Mercury Receive Good News Before Wings, Paige Bueckers Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Phoenix Mercury could get a much-needed boost heading into their matchup against the Dallas Wings on Wednesday. Advertisement The Mercury are off to a solid 6-4 start in the 2025 WNBA season, despite multiple injuries to key players like Alyssa Thomas, who has been out since May 27 due to a left calf injury and Kahleah Copper, who recently underwent knee surgery. The team ranks second in the league. But on Tuesday, coach Nate Tibbetts told Desert Wave Media that Thomas and Mercury center Mack are expected to return to the lineup after missing time with injuries. Mack was ruled out for Saturday's game against the Seattle Storm due to a back injury. "The plan for AT is to play, and she's been trending in the right direction. She had a really good day today, along with Mack," Tibbetts said. "I'm excited to get those two back." Phoenix Mercury forward Natasha Mack (4).© Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Mack has been a reliable defensive anchor off the bench for the Mercury, contributing rebounds and rim protection in limited minutes. After two years playing overseas in Poland, New Zealand and Turkey, Mack signed with the Mercury for the 2024 WNBA season. Advertisement Meanwhile, Thomas joined the Phoenix Mercury this season in a major trade and has since made an immediate impact with her playmaking and defensive presence. Prior to joining the Mercury, she played with the Connecticut Sun for ten seasons, from 2014 to 2024. Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas brings the ball up court against the Chicago Sky during her team's game at Wintrust Arena in Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports Thomas, Mack and the Mercury are set to play against Paige Bueckers and the Wings on Wednesday at the PHX Arena at 7 p.m. PT. Related: WNBA Star Alyssa Thomas' Strong Statement to Future Wife on Indiana Fever Related: Satou Sabally Makes Franchise Record During Phoenix Mercury Debut This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
