Aari McDonald is coming off her strongest WNBA season despite falling to a season-ending foot injury back in August. She is set to make her debut in Unrivaled's 3-on-3 league this January when she suits up for Breeze BC, giving coaches around the league the opportunity to thoroughly assess how she will bounce back from injury. McDonald's performance in Unrivaled could put the Indiana Fever's backs against the wall with an expansion draft looming. The Fever are only allowed to protect around six players from the WNBA's two newest teams (assuming the rules will be similar to the expansion draft for the Valkyries), creating much uncertainty around McDonald's future in Indiana.
One thing is for certain: she quickly became a fan favorite as a member of the Fever after they acquired her in a season that had them riddled with injuries. She was a previous member of the Los Angeles Sparks and the Atlanta Dream, but quickly fit nicely into head coach Stephanie White's system with the Fever.
McDonald plays with quick pace and tempo and is effective in splitting defenses with her speed and smoothness when driving to the basket, complementing teammate Caitlin Clark's game, There were few weaknesses or flaws to McDonald's game when she arrived in Indianapolis, which will weigh heavily on the team's decision to make her one of their protected selections. A great Unrivaled season could up the pressure on the Fever to make sure McDonald sticks around. After all, if she has a good Unrivaled season after also playing well for the Fever and winning over fans, how will they justify not bringing her back?
Unrivaled could increase teams’ interest in McDonald
During Unrivaled, McDonald will be surrounded by high-profile talent with Cameron Brink and Paige Bueckers as her teammates. Besides earning extra pay during the offseason, Unrivaled provides players with the chance to compete in fast-paced competition, allowing them to polish their skills. When really examining McDonald's game, it's difficult to find many flaws. She's great in the short game in the paint, is a 3-point threat, and plays solid defensively. Playing offseason ball, however, will allow her to work through kinks following an injury before training camp quickly approaches in April—that is if the league and Players’ Association are able to reach an agreement for a new CBA to keep the WNBA going.
McDonald only signed a contract long enough to guarantee her a spot with the Fever until the end of the 2025 season. Depending on what comes about in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, it will likely affect teams’ spending limits and abilities. McDonald still has a long career ahead of her if she can stay healthy. She's proven thus far not to be injury-prone, having one other serious injury in her career back in 2023 (MCL tear). This can also play a factor in teams’ decisions to either re-sign her short-term or continue to build her into the system.
During her 2025 season with the Fever, McDonald averaged 9.8 points, 4.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game—a vast improvement from her seasons prior. She also contributed heavily in minutes per game, averaging just under 27 minutes for Indiana.
If she has a solid season in Unrivaled, the Fever will certainly be pressured to keep her on their roster. Even if she isn’t selected in the expansion draft, other teams around the league will surely be inclined to give her a strong look. Indiana will have to be aggressive to keep their strong foundation for long-term success, and, prior to her injury, McDonald proved she could play a role in that.