Aari McDonald might push a veteran off the Fever roster (but not who you think)

Aari McDonald wasted no time making an impact in her Indiana Fever debut. Signed to a hardship contract just one day before Tuesday’s game, the former No. 3 overall pick logged 27 minutes off the bench, finishing with 7 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals in an 85–76 win over the Washington Mystics.

Her athleticism, defensive energy, and control of the offense stood out, especially in the fourth quarter, when she took the place of spot starter Sydney Colson and helped close the game.

It was the kind of performance that could turn a short-term stint into a long-term stay with the organization. McDonald is only on a temporary deal, but the Fever will soon have a decision to make.

If she keeps playing like this, Indiana might want to find a way to keep her around. And if that happens, someone will have to go. Most assume Colson could be the odd one out, given that McDonald essentially replaced her late in Tuesday night's game.

But there’s another name to watch: Brianna Turner. While Colson’s role has grown with recent injuries to Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham, Turner’s impact has been minimal through the first seven games of the year.

If McDonald proves she belongs, it might not be Colson she pushes out — it could be Turner.

Aari McDonald could force Brianna Turner off the Fever roster

With Clark and Cunningham sidelined, the Fever needed someone who could stabilize the offense and keep the team organized. That someone turned out to be McDonald.

She didn’t just run the offense well, but she also brought a noticeable spark. Her defensive pressure led to three steals, and her pace gave Indiana a different gear late in the game.

Meanwhile, Colson, who started again in place of Clark, was quiet. She played just 17 minutes and was subbed out in the fourth quarter as McDonald helped close out the win.

That has naturally led to speculation: if Indiana decides to keep McDonald when her hardship deal ends, does that put Colson on the chopping block? But here’s where the conversation might be missing the real target.

The Fever don’t have to cut a guard to make room. They could look elsewhere, and the aforementioned Brianna Turner may be the one in jeopardy.

A seven-year WNBA veteran, Turner spent the bulk of her career as a starter in Phoenix, where she was known more for her defense and rebounding than her scoring.

After being traded to Chicago in 2024, her role shifted dramatically, becoming a sporadic bench contributor for the Sky. She signed with Indiana during this offseason, hoping to bring veteran presence and frontcourt insurance to a young Fever roster.

However, Turner has played in just four of the team’s seven games this season, logging fewer than two minutes in Tuesday’s win and recording only one total point, no field goals, and three rebounds all year. She’s essentially emergency depth behind Aliyah Boston and Damiris Dantas, but her role is limited at best.

With the backcourt clearly the bigger concern, and recent injuries only emphasizing that further, it’s not hard to imagine Indiana prioritizing guard depth over third-string frontcourt insurance.

If McDonald continues to impress, it might be Turner, not Colson, who ends up on the outside looking in.

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