Caitlin Clark's $72,414 replacement makes massive personal announcement amid red-hot streak: "I’m in grad school for ABA"

Aari McDonald has seamlessly replaced the injured Caitlin Clark in the Indiana Fever’s starting lineup. McDonald signed a one-year, $72,414 contract with the franchise after DeWanna Bonner was waived. Her inclusion has made a difference, and she continues to deliver dazzling performances on the court.

Amid her red-hot streak, McDonald made a personal announcement on Saturday, revealing that she is in grad school.

"Having a 12-page paper due during a 4-game road trip is wild," McDonald tweeted.

Following McDonald’s tweet, an X user asked the Fever guard a few questions about her grad school journey.

McDonald graciously responded:

"I’m in grad school for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). I work on assignments on the plane, bus, before and after games/practices."

Aari McDonald made the announcement amid her scorching streak in the WNBA. The Indiana Fever are on a four-game winning streak and McDonald has played a huge role in it. Over the last three games, the former LA Sparks guard is averaging an impressive 17.3 points and 4.7 assists per game on 52/64/94 shooting splits.

Fans react to Caitlin Clark's teammate Aari McDonald's announcement

Social media was buzzing after Aari McDonald revealed she is pursuing higher education. Indiana Fever fans shared candid reactions, praising the talented guard’s commitment to maintaining a strong work-life balance.

A fan said:

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McDonald will be in action on Sunday when the Fever square off against the Seattle Storm. Another solid outing can be expected from the guard, who has been described by teammate Kelsey Mitchell as a “blessing in disguise”.

Edited by Atishay Jain