It's not a stretch of the imagination to say Aari McDonald has changed the Fever for the better. The 5'6" guard initially joined the team on a hardship contract after both Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham went down early in the season with injuries, and was signed for the duration of the season following DeWanna Bonner's departure.
McDonald quickly became a fan favorite, is averaging 9.8 points and 4.7 assists and doing it all while balancing grad school — a revelation the Fever highlighted following the team's 78-74 win over the Storm Sunday.
Aari McDonald putting in work on the court and in grad school 🏀📝 pic.twitter.com/JO4r8PRqTk
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) August 2, 2025
"Having a 12 page paper due during a 4 game to road trip is wild," McDonald noted on social media as the Fever prepared to set off on the road for a series of games. The team's official social media accounts reshared the quote and noted, "Aari McDonald putting in work on the court and in grad school."
the perfect missing piece.
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) August 4, 2025
during our five-game winning streak, Aari McDonald has been a driving force, averaging 14.0 points per game, including a career-high 27-point performance against the Mercury, as she continues to step up when it matters most. pic.twitter.com/GkPm5nUMOl
McDonald has been quietly killing on both fronts. On Monday, August 4, the Fever described her as "the perfect missing piece" and noted McDonald is currently averaging 14 points per game on the road (and had a major 27-point game against the Mercury last week).
In 2024 McDonald spoke to Essence's Girls United about what it takes to balance a professional basketball career with graduate school, a feat that is understandably tough — but that she seems uniquely prepared for. She explained that being a great planner is key to success, and also noted that her graduate program is fully aware of her WNBA career.
"The people in my [graduate school] program know I got drafted so they have been communicating with me and being patient. They’re like, ‘We know what you’re doing. Get things done and turn it in when you can,'" McDonald added.
McDonald is pursuing her graduate degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of Phoenix, a program that can ultimately allow her to pursue career paths in occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and mental health.
Aari McDonald and the Fever were meant to be
Until then, the Fever will continue to sing McDonald's praises. Following the team's August 1 win over the Wings, coach Stephanie White praised the star guard for her energy and speed on the court, two factors that are consistently on display every time McDonald blasts through a pack of defenders in pursuit of a basket.
McDonald's journey with the Fever this season has been a thrilling ride for fans (and like for McDonald, too) — and the team will has just over a month of regular season play and a potential playoffs run in their future.