WNBA’s emergency hardship exception: The rule allows teams to sign a player out of free agency immediately after they fall below 10 healthy rostered players. For an injury-riddled squad, the rule allows a team to add reinforcements when they need it most without having to worry about the usual roster or cap space rules.

For Indiana Fever, injury troubles started early in the season and in their game against the Connecticut Sun, Caitlin Clark (left quad strain), Sophie Cunningham (ankle), and Sydney Colson were all out. Hence, with only 8 players active, the team made the push to sign former LA Sparks guard Aari McDonald on Monday.

“When you go out on the court, it’s all or nothing.” While meditating before her debut this season, Aari McDonald had one thing in mind– prove she’s “here for a reason.” With the Indiana Fever jersey on, the 26-year-old came off the bench and showed her point guard instincts. Not just on the offensive end and playmaking, but also the defense. And with her presence in the crucial 27 minutes on the floor, she broke Indiana’s 3-game losing streak with 7 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals in the 85-76 home win over the Washington Mystics. The best part?

She only got one practice and one shootaround with the squad coming into the game, but her chemistry with the team did not feel like it was anything new (We will ignore the one rebounding confusion she had with Aliyah Boston). Probably, because of her preparation where she watched game film on the flight to Indy and went over schemes with the coaching staff. With the buzzer on, she executed some plays that she didn’t even practice yet with the Fever. No doubt, HC Stephanie White was impressed.

“Not everybody can do that. That’s a point guard mindset. I thought she did a great job. She’s hungry, No. 1. And No. 2, she knows how to play. And she’s just a dog on defense; we needed that.”

As for McDonald, “When I got the call I was very excited, very blessed. It’s a humbling experience to join a team like the Fever, and I’m excited, ready to compete and just win.” She did exactly that, in a team effort highlighted by the OG Indiana group from last season.

Kelsey Mitchell lit up the scoreboard with 24 points, while Lexie Hull was everywhere – dropping 14 points, grabbing 6 rebounds, dishing 4 assists, even swatting a block, and being an absolute menace on the defense. But everyone in the building had their eyes on one person: Aari McDonald. Could she come in and fix the glaring playmaking issues that had been haunting Indiana since Clark’s absence?

Well, she didn’t just plug the gap, she energized the entire backcourt. She led the team in assists, led in steals, and topped all bench players in production. And more importantly, she brought that spark. The offense flowed smoother, the defense looked tighter and the energy just clicked.

“It felt good tonight to finally get back,” McDonald said after the game. “When your number is called, you’ve got to be ready to deliver, and I felt like I did just that.” Now, fever fans aren’t just celebrating the win, they’re making their voices heard. 

Fever fans call for Aari McDonald’s permanent spot

It didn’t take long for Indiana Fever fans to fall in love with Aari McDonald. After just one game, they’re already calling on the front office to make her stay permanent and not just asking politely, we’re talking full-blown warnings. “FO we love her- If you cut her we riot- I am so for real, do not be stupid,” one fan declared, tagging execs Amber Cox and Lin Dunn directly. 

Technically, Fever can sign the guard to their roster which currently stands at 11 players instead of the maximum 12. But there’s a stitch- The salary cap. And Indy is already past its point. Unless they want to cut another player, Aari can be with them only until the return of the 11 players. But tonight was Clark’s third missed game, and if her nursing is going correctly, she only has one more game to miss. However, how quickly Aari got used to the Fever’s plays was no doubt impressive.

Another fan chimed in, stunned by how fast McDonald got up to speed, “She needs a spot on the roster permanently. She only had one practice and ran the offense like that?!” McDonald had barely 24 hours with the team and already jumped into the top 10 in the league in a key stat – offensive fouls drawn. Three in her first eight minutes, five by the end of the night. And it’s not just fans who were wowed. Coach Stephanie White was also in all praise of the baller.

A third fan added to the buzz, suggesting, “If possible, sign her long term! She made a huge difference! If you have to get rid of #BriannaTurner to sign #AariMcDonald, do it! It would be a huge net positive! Nothing against Brianna, but just want what’s best for the team!”

McDonald is a backcourt energizer – her defensive hustle and offensive tempo are exactly what Indiana needs at this moment. Turner, meanwhile, holds down the frontcourt, which just isn’t the Fever’s most urgent need anymore, with Aaliyah Boston continuing to only improve and the addition of Natash Howard and DeWanna Bonner. And given how Indiana’s guard rotation was begging for depth, it’s hard to argue with that take.

Then there was another passionate call, “She can be a backup for BOTH CC & Kelsey. AARI is the missing piece.” McDonald brings the best of both worlds – her ball-handling and court vision allow her to step into Clark’s shoes when needed, and her speed and scoring instincts make her the perfect stand-in for Kelsey Mitchell. She’s got that plug-and-play versatility that’s golden in the WNBA.

Obviously, one curious fan asked the very reasonable question, “Any reason she can’t become the 12th player on the team?” Right now, the Fever are maxed out when it comes to salary cap. WNBA teams have to manage rosters within a strict cap, and Indiana’s current contracts leave them with zero flexibility to add a 12th player on a permanent basis. That’s where hardship contracts come in. They’re temporary and don’t count against the standard 11-player max when injuries pile up. But when players return, that spot disappears unless something changes.

For now, even if Clark returns next week, we still don’t know how long Sophie Cunningham will be out. And hardship contracts only apply when three players are injured, given Fever has 11-man roster. Indiana started the season with just 11, so if only one is sidelined, it’s unclear if McDonald can stick around. Either way, this is a massive opportunity for her to make her case. Let’s see if she can force Fever FO to make space for her.