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The Indiana Fever signed Aari McDonald through the emergency hardship contract on Monday to battle the injury plague. At one time, all of Fever's primary and backup point guards were injured.
They utilized the hardship contract and brought in the former Sparks player for some relief. However, the Caitlin Clark-led franchise cannot keep their new signing longer.
Indiana became eligible for the hardship contract when they fell below the minimum number of players (10) required to play a game. Clark, Sophie Cunningham and Sydney Colson all dealt with injuries.
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However, Colson was fit to play again on Tuesday. Once either Clark or Cunningham returns, Indiana will have to terminate McDonald's contract. Signing the former Sparks guard to a new contract is also not an option.
To sign McDonald, the Fever need to have less than 12 players on their roster, and cap space of around $50,000. They don't meet any of the conditions. The only way for them to keep McDonald is to cut one of their players and offer her a new contract.
How good has Aari McDonald been for the Indiana Fever in her short stint with the franchise?
Aari McDonald has handled the point guard position for the Fever well in the absence of their starting guards. In the two games she played, McDonald made a difference and helped the team get back on the winning track.
After Caitlin Clark was sidelined with a quad strain, the Fever lost back-to-back-games before signing McDonald. However, after the former Sparks player's arrival, Indiana has bounced back.
It defeated the Washington Mystics on Tuesday 85-76 and then demolished the Chicago Sky on Saturday 79-52. Before McDonald's arrival, the Fever lost to the Mystics following Clark's injury.
Through two games, McDonald is averaging 9.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists, leading the league in steals with 3.0 per game. She has adapted to Stephanie White's system, presenting a difficult decision for the franchise when Clark or Cunningham returns.
