Fever bring back 1st-round guard after cutting ties with DeWanna Bonner

The DeWanna Bonner era is over in Indiana, an unexpected and unequivocal failure.

The Fever waived the future Hall of Famer on Wednesday. In her place, they signed Aari McDonald.

The No. 3 overall pick in 2021 by Atlanta, McDonald played three games earlier this season for the Fever as a hardship signee while Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham were out.

McDonald's role will be different this time around, because her point guard skills aren't as key with Clark on the court. But she clearly impressed the Fever's decision-makers with her play earlier in the year.

In her Fever debut, McDonald had seven points, five assists and three steals. In game two, she had 12 points and three steals. And in her final Indiana outing, McDonald put up 14 points with two assists.

McDonald signs for the prorated veteran minimum of around $53,000, according to the Indianapolis Star.

The lefty guard seemed to quickly endear herself to her teammates and fans earlier in the season with her scrappy, energetic, high basketball IQ-style of play.

“I’m so excited to rejoin the Fever. Although my time with the team was brief, it immediately felt like the place to be,” McDonald said, according to the Indianapolis Star. “I’m grateful for the warm welcome from the coaches, teammates, and fans—and most of all, I thank God for the incredible journey I’m on.”

The 5-foot-6 McDonald certainly seems like she wants to be in Indiana, which has to be a better fit than someone who wanted out so soon after arriving. 

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