Aari McDonald did not begin the WNBA season on the hardwood like many of her contemporaries. She was not on the roster on opening day and did not return to uniform until the Fever called with a seven-day contract in early June.
McDonald Leads Fever to Victory with Career Night
McDonald led the Fever to a 107-101 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday, scoring a career-high 27 points. Indiana scored 107 points, the third-highest total in franchise history and the greatest record for the Fever offense this season.
“I think tonight, I was like, ‘Okay, this is my time to shine,’“ McDonald said on Wednesday. “Everyone is encouraging me, so I need to believe. Staying in the gym, staying focused, and remaining aggressive has been the key for me.
She felt right at home in Indianapolis – McDonald played three games for the team during her week-long stay, scoring up to 14 points while filling in for the shorthanded Indiana squad.
Even then, she felt it was the correct fit.
“I just think her impact – you can see it even looking at the plus/minus,” Aliyah Boston said following an early July victory over the Aces. “… Whether it’s scoring, defending, getting us on offense, or making the appropriate reads and passes. I believe she’s been the great missing piece for us.”
Only sixteen days passed between the end of McDonald’s hardship contract and Indiana’s first game with her back on the roster. Nearly two months after being called to join the Fever on a temporary deal, McDonald’s play powered the Fever to a significant win over a tough Mercury club.
“I‘m a student of the game,” McDonald explained. “I’m constantly reviewing film, asking questions, and knowing where my teammates like the ball. Just figuring out how they can be effective on the court.”
McDonald added four assists to her 27 points, made all ten free throws, and had a.640 field goal percentage.
She saw two 3-pointers fall early on and knew it was her night. McDonald maintained continual pressure on the rim through her offensive intensity after realizing how easy it was to slice Phoenix’s defense in the paint.
That animosity was fully present in the period leading up to McDonald’s reunion with the Fever; it just manifested differently. According to coach Stephanie White, McDonald arrived knowing more than half of Indiana’s offensive sets.
“Aari gives us a different dimension, a different look than Caitlin gives us, and Syd gives us an even different look,” White told me. “The ability to have a player who can go downhill…” “You have another player who can create for herself and others.”
Indiana is climbing the ranks as the season nears its halfway point. Wednesday’s win is the Fever’s third consecutive victory, the second such streak this season.
The Fever are moving up the ranks and relying on depth. Five players scored in double figures against Phoenix, including two from Indiana’s bench.
“Every single player on our roster has experience,” stated White. “[And] acquired experience over the season. When one player does not have it, another one does and steps in. That’s crucial.”
The Fever will carry that depth and camaraderie to Dallas on Friday for a game with the Wings, as well as an opportunity to extend their winning run as the postseason approaches. They’ll face the Wings at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday before traveling to Seattle for a Sunday game against the Storm.
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