New G McDonald helps end Clark-less Fever's skid

The Indiana Fever won their archetypal crippled since constituent defender Caitlin Clark was injured, getting a assistance from exigency hardship signing Aari McDonald successful an 85-76 triumph implicit Washington connected Tuesday successful Indianapolis.

Indiana had mislaid 3 games successful a row, 2 of them aft Clark was ruled retired for astatine slightest 2 weeks connected May 26 with a quad injury. The Fever fell 83-77 against Washington successful a crippled played successful Baltimore connected May 28 and past 85-83 to Connecticut astatine location connected May 30.

Guards Sydney Colson and Sophie Cunningham were injured during the Connecticut crippled and exited, leaving Indiana to decorativeness with conscionable 8 players. On Monday, the Fever signed McDonald, the No. 3 prime successful the 2021 draught who antecedently played for Atlanta and Los Angeles.

Cunningham remains retired but Colson was capable to play Tuesday and started. She finished with 7 points and 3 assists successful 16 minutes.

McDonald came disconnected the bench, and had 7 points, 5 assists and 3 steals successful 27 minutes. Fever manager Stephanie White said that McDonald watched crippled movie connected the formation to Indianapolis and went implicit schemes with the coaching staff, past executed immoderate plays that she hasn't had a accidental to signifier yet with the Fever.

"Not everybody tin bash that. That's a constituent defender mindset," White said. "I thought she did a large job. She's hungry, No. 1. And No. 2, she knows however to play. And she's conscionable a canine connected defense; we needed that."

Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever, present 3-4, with 24 points and Lexie Hull had 14. Both praised McDonald for giving the squad a assistance it needed.

"I'm truly arrogant of Aari for coming retired and playing immoderate unthinkable minutes," Hull said. "She was ready."

Mitchell added, "It goes to amusement what pros are, and however you're expected to operate."

White besides said the crippled was the Fever's astir implicit since their play opener connected May 17, erstwhile they bushed Chicago 93-58 down Clark's triple-double.

"Outside of Game 1, it was the astir accordant we've played passim the people of 40 minutes," White said. "21 assists connected 30 made tract goals ... that's however we person to play successful bid of america to beryllium successful. We've gotta get that shot moving."