The Indiana Fever finally snapped their losing streak — and they did it without Caitlin Clark on the floor. With a gritty 85–76 win over the Washington Mystics at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Fever picked up their first victory in three games.
The backcourt was already short with Sophie Cunningham and Sydney Colson both sidelined, forcing the team to sign Aari McDonald on a hardship deal just 48 hours before tipoff.
Aair McDonald Steps up for Fever
McDonald, the No. 3 pick in the 2021 WNBA Draft, didn’t waste time proving her value. In 27 tough minutes off the bench, she totaled seven points, five assists, three steals, and drew five offensive fouls. Her energy flipped the script for a Fever team badly in need of steady play on both ends of the floor.
“You came in and you impacted the ball game. You settled us down. You were aggressive. Your defense set the tone.”
Stephanie White praised Aari McDonald in the locker room after tonight’s win 👏 pic.twitter.com/41DTkXq4F5
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) June 4, 2025
Head coach Stephanie White highlighted McDonald’s contributions postgame. “Aari was terrific … she got us settled … she set the tone on the defensive end and that was big time for us,” White said in her press conference, via Indiana Fever.
She added more praise in the locker room, where teammates applauded McDonald’s play.
“Aari, hell of a job. You came in and you impacted the ball game. You settled us down, you were aggressive, your defense set the tone. Hell of a job.”
Indiana also improved defensively, holding the Mystics to 1-of-10 from three-point range. According to Fieldhouse Files, McDonald’s five drawn offensive fouls helped swing momentum early in the first half. FeverStats later confirmed she jumped into the top 10 in that category after just one game.
Aari McDonald’s Playing Style Aligns With Stephanie White’s System and Urgency
Stephanie White’s offense demands quick decisions. Players are coached to either shoot, pass, or drive within half a second of getting the ball — a concept White calls “point-five basketball.”
Lexie Hull, who had 14 points, six rebounds, and four assists in the win, explained it this way:
“Get the ball and do something with it, either drive, pass, shoot… and just trying to make those right reads and make them quick,” she said, per IndyStar.
McDonald showed she could play at that speed right away. She led Indiana in assists and steals and played more minutes than any other reserve. She also added the team’s first fast-break points in three games.
Aari McDonald in her Fever debut:
7 PTS 5 AST (led both teams) 3 STL (led both teams)
IMPACT. pic.twitter.com/IsYxtLKO6G— FeverStats (@FeverStats) June 4, 2025
“My style of play is just playing fast,” McDonald said postgame. “When I was at home watching games, Indiana was one of the teams that I would watch, and I was like, ‘I can kind of see myself playing.’ Great system, and I’m happy that they made me comfortable enough to play my game.”
Kelsey Mitchell also praised McDonald. “She did everything amazingly and with such grace. She can guard the ball. She can get us all positioned to get shots, and I think most importantly, she’s fun to play with,” Mitchell said.
White’s system hasn’t always clicked in her first year as head coach, but against Washington, it looked sharp. Indiana dished out 21 assists on 30 made baskets, showing better rhythm than in previous games without Clark.
White took notice. “This was the best I’ve seen it,” she said. “It hasn’t been that way as much … when things are really flowing, you can see it develop and you can see how it gets us the best shot on the floor.”
The Fever will face the Chicago Sky on June 8, still without Caitlin Clark, who remains out with a quad strain. She’ll be reevaluated June 9, according to the latest update from White. Until then, Indiana will lean on McDonald’s tempo, defense, and experience to help carry the load.