Indiana Fever’s New Signing Tipped to Solve Issues Even Caitlin Clark Couldn’t, per WNBA Analyst

Caitlin Clark is yet to return for the Indiana Fever. The Fever will not hurry her back, as a worse injury could well be their demise for this season, and they can pack up now.  We have seen how much they have struggled to cope with her loss, losing two consecutive games without her.

And it is not just the fact that they have lost, but how they have lost. That spark was missing, which became even worse after they lost Sydney Colson and Sophie Cunningham. With only 8 players active on the roster, they have brought in former Sparks guard Aari McDonald as an emergency signing. McDonald brings in 4 years of experience in the WNBA, three of which she spent with the Atlanta Dream and one with the Sparks. This WNBA analyst has pointed out one area in which McDonald’s will improve, which they struggled with, even with Clark on the side. 

Rosalina Lee said on her YouTube Channel, “Her free throw percentage, which is something that we want to getting better because the free throw percentages on the Fever this season have not been good, including Caitlin Clark’s. But um, her free throw percentage is 84%. So that’s pretty solid.”

Free throws are something that is given to you and you are expected to be able to make them most of the time. But the occasion of the game, the crowd, and the pressure sometimes trend the entire team downwards. Fever is dead last in free throw percentage this season among all teams with 70.5. Clark herself is averaging 75%, which is 69th best in the league. In their first loss against the Atlanta Dream, they missed 10 free throws and lost the game by 1 point. Even Clark admitted that this was an issue for them.

The Fever’s 14.0 turnovers per game, ranking 9th in the league, have also hurt them, and Aari McDonald’s steady ball-handling, she averaged just 1.8 turnovers last season—could help clean up those sloppy moments.

“We missed free throws,  layups, didn’t execute.” She had said it after that game. Fever shot an abysmal 61.5% from the charity stripe as opposed to 78.1 by the Dream. They have also gotten more opportunity to get those free points as teams have tried to be physical against this undersized Fever side. With 21.5 free throws attempted per game, they have had the fourth most chances in the league.

This will continue as the season goes on, as the teams have figured out that being physical is the way to go against Clark and Co. Hopefully Aari makes these numbers momentarily better, as her 84.9% from the free throw is better than most on the Fever side. Stephanie White already has too many issues to contend with so she will want her players to at least take those free points regularly. 

Aari McDonald makes her feelings known about joining Indiana Fever

McDonald earlier rejoined the Sparks on a training camp contract but with a flurry of guards to compete with, she was eventually waived. The opportunity to impress in the WNBA has once again come knocking in an unexpected fashion. She said her first words as a Fever player, showcasing her feeling. 

“Very anxious, like it felt weird sitting at home just watching the game this time of the year,” McDonald said. “But when I got the call, I was very blessed. It’s a humbling experience to join a team like the Fever. I’m just excited and ready to compete and just win.”

aari mcdonald on joining the fever:

“when i got the call… i was very excited, very blessed, it’s a humbling experience to join a team like the fever. i’m just excited and ready to compete and just win.” pic.twitter.com/qhdjyTNbvw

— cc akgae (@clrkszn) June 2, 2025

McDonald took part in her first practice with the Fever on Monday and she doesn’t have much time to gel with the Indiana team as she will immediately start against the Washington Mystics. Coach Stephanie White has professed that she will play a vital part for them in the coming days. 

“Yeah, I mean, she’s got to play,” White said. “She’s brought in here to play, to handle the ball. We’ll do a good job of keeping it simple for her. But she’s a player and this is what she does.”

For her career, she averaged 8.6 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. Last year she averaged 8.7 points and 3.7 assists while playing 21 minutes per game for the Sparks. With more time on the court, she will be in new territory but she has the goods to be a solid point guard in Clark’s absence.

And when Clark returns, Aari’s ability to operate off the ball could turn them into a dynamic backcourt duo, potentially ironing out some of the Fever’s execution issues that even Clark’s high-octane play couldn’t entirely fix.

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