Sports
WNBA - English
With their young franchise centerpiece Caitlin Clark sidelined due to a left quadriceps injury, the Indiana Fever have entered crisis mode.
The team has lost two straight games without their star rookie, and the ripple effect of her absence is being felt far beyond scoring. Now, head coach Stephanie White and the organization have taken urgent action.
Sabrina Ionescu snaps at referee in classic Caitlin Clark fashion
On Monday, the team made headlines with a roster addition under the WNBA‘s emergency hardship exception, a rule that allows franchises to temporarily sign players when multiple injuries deplete the roster. The name immediately sparked buzz: Aari McDonald.
“The goal would be to get everybody back to their natural positions if we can,” Stephanie White said when asked about navigating the roster shuffling due to injuries. “But at the same time, we can’t control everything, so we’ll get the best player that we can get.”
McDonald’s tenacity could give Indiana a much-needed spark
McDonald was the third overall pick in the 2021 WNBA Draft and began her pro career with the Atlanta Dream before a brief stint with the Los Angeles Sparks last season.
A household name among college hoops fans, McDonald rose to national prominence at the University of Arizona, where she was named the 2021 Pac-12 Player of the Year and Co-Defensive Player of the Year. Her fiery play during Arizona’s Cinderella run to the NCAA championship game made her a fan favorite.
Her hallmark has always been defensive intensity. While she stands at just 5-foot-6, McDonald‘s quick hands, lateral speed, and relentless ball pressure make her a disruptive force at the point-of-attack. And that’s exactly what Indiana has lacked in Clark‘s absence.
Some were quick to recall the last time McDonald shared the court with Caitlin Clark, a tense moment that went viral across the WNBA world.
“Just make sure she doesn’t run up to guard CC while she’s doing her recovery lol jk jk welcome to the team Aari!” one fan joked.
The comment referenced a heated on-court moment that brought out McDonald’s tenacity and Clark’s fiery competitiveness, a clash that added more fuel to an already buzzing WNBA rivalry landscape.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Once Nick Saban’s right-hand man, Scott Cochran overcame addiction to earn a fresh start at West Alabama
LIVINGSTON, Ala. – One hour away from the place that made him famous, Scott Cochran gets the news from his athletic trainer that it's too hot to wear pads at practice today. It's an unfortunate reality of the blazing Alabama sun this morning, but he has no choice but to adapt and move on. He knows it won't go over well with his young staff -- full of former Alabama stars like Blake Sims, O.J. Howard and Bo Scarbrough. They are eager for another opportunity to improve with the season opener looming. Cochran was once the same -- ringleader of those then-Alabama players running 110s in the punishing heat that helped shape Crimson Tide teams that never backed down. But when you've lived the life Cochran has over the last five years, you gain perspective on what really matters. Inside Homer Field House […]
Caitlin Clark injury update: Fever star reportedly tweaked ankle during workout, remains out with groin injury
Getty Images Caitlin Clark has not played for the Indiana Fever since suffering a groin injury on July 15, but that's apparently not the only injury she's dealing with. During a workout in Phoenix on August 7, Clark tweaked her ankle, according to Scott Agness of the Fieldhouse Files, adding to her injury-riddled sophomore season. According to Chloe Peterson of the Indy Star, the injury was a "mild bone bruise" that didn't add any time to Clark's timetable to return. Still, for a player who has dealt with a quad injury and two groin injuries this season, adding an ankle injury on top to slow progress she may have been making only adds to her frustration at what is becoming a lost season. Injury-stricken Fever at crossroads: Should Indiana continue push toward WNBA playoffs or focus on the future? Jack Maloney […]
Quarterback Tyson Bagent gets emotional after making history with Bears in signing extension
Getty Images On Wednesday, quarterback Tyson Bagent put pen to paper on a two-year, $10 million extension with the Chicago Bears. This was not considered to be one of the biggest NFL stories of the day, but it was historic in nature.According to The Athletic, Bagent is the first Bears quarterback to sign a contract extension since Jay Cutler did so in January 2014. Wednesday was also, of course, massive for Bagent and his family. A native of Martinsburg, West Virginia, Bagent attended Division II Shepherd University, where he spent five seasons. The odds of him signing a $10 million NFL contract one day probably felt incredibly slim. As he revealed during an emotional press conference, his father didn't even have running water until high school. Now, he's a millionaire. "We are fortunate to ensure that Tyson remains a member of […]
Stellar Pitchers, Big Bats, and a Pennant Race: Red Sox-Yankees Will Have It All
<!--> [--> Deesha Thosar MLB Writer <!--> --> Two of MLB's biggest brands entered the season with something to prove.The Yankees? Getting back to the World Series after last October’s humbling exit. The Red Sox? Reach the playoffs for the first time since 2021. But this season, these perennial powers are chasing instead of pacing the league, which has actually led to one of more thrilling pennant races this year. It only adds to the tension of a highly-anticipated four-game series that begins on Thursday in the Bronx.Here are five storylines to follow before the most iconic rivalry in baseball takes center stage. Old Rivalry, New MeaningIt’s not Jason Varitek and Alex Rodriguez getting into a shoving match and inciting a benches-clearing brawl for the ages. It’s not Pedro Martinez throwing 72-year-old bench coach Don Zimmer to the ground. It’s not Derek […]
WATCH: Little League World Series foul ball shatters TV camera
Getty Images The Little League World Series is off to a smashing start, but a couple of teams just took that literally. During a game between the Metro Region and the Mountain Region, a foul ball took out one of the television cameras.On Wednesday, the Metro and Mountain regions were locked in a tight battle when the Mountain Region pitcher challenged the batter. SJ Taxiltaridis swung and fouled a spinner straight back to the back stop.That slight redirection sent the ball hurtling into the television camera, which smashed into countless pieces upon impact. It was the type of play you could try to replicate 1,000 times and never do it again. This matchup isn't notable simply for the property damage. The Metro and the Mountain regions are battling for a spot in the US Final. The loser of this game […]
Browns’ Myles Garrett declines to comment on latest speeding ticket, tells reporter to ‘ask another question’
Police stopped Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett earlier this month for speeding, marking at least his eighth offense since his 2017 arrival in the NFL. And in his first media availability since he received the citation, he pushed back against questions regarding the matter in a tense exchange with reporters.Garrett drove 100 mph in a 60 mph zone hours after Cleveland's preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers. Police records show he was pulled over in his Ferrari on Interstate 71 at 2 a.m. in Strongsville, Ohio, south of the Browns' facility. He received a ticket and was summoned to appear in court the following week unless he paid the $250 fine."I'd honestly rather talk about football and this team than anything I'm doing off the field, other than the back-to-school event that I did the other day," Garrett said when first asked […]
Related
Once Nick Saban’s right-hand man, Scott Cochran overcame addiction to earn a fresh start at West Alabama
LIVINGSTON, Ala. – One hour away from the place that made him famous, Scott Cochran gets the news from his athletic trainer that it's too hot to wear pads at practice today. It's an unfortunate reality of the blazing Alabama sun this morning, but he has no choice but to adapt and move on. He knows it won't go over well with his young staff -- full of former Alabama stars like Blake Sims, O.J. Howard and Bo Scarbrough. They are eager for another opportunity to improve with the season opener looming. Cochran was once the same -- ringleader of those then-Alabama players running 110s in the punishing heat that helped shape Crimson Tide teams that never backed down. But when you've lived the life Cochran has over the last five years, you gain perspective on what really matters. Inside Homer Field House […]
Caitlin Clark injury update: Fever star reportedly tweaked ankle during workout, remains out with groin injury
Getty Images Caitlin Clark has not played for the Indiana Fever since suffering a groin injury on July 15, but that's apparently not the only injury she's dealing with. During a workout in Phoenix on August 7, Clark tweaked her ankle, according to Scott Agness of the Fieldhouse Files, adding to her injury-riddled sophomore season. According to Chloe Peterson of the Indy Star, the injury was a "mild bone bruise" that didn't add any time to Clark's timetable to return. Still, for a player who has dealt with a quad injury and two groin injuries this season, adding an ankle injury on top to slow progress she may have been making only adds to her frustration at what is becoming a lost season. Injury-stricken Fever at crossroads: Should Indiana continue push toward WNBA playoffs or focus on the future? Jack Maloney […]
Quarterback Tyson Bagent gets emotional after making history with Bears in signing extension
Getty Images On Wednesday, quarterback Tyson Bagent put pen to paper on a two-year, $10 million extension with the Chicago Bears. This was not considered to be one of the biggest NFL stories of the day, but it was historic in nature.According to The Athletic, Bagent is the first Bears quarterback to sign a contract extension since Jay Cutler did so in January 2014. Wednesday was also, of course, massive for Bagent and his family. A native of Martinsburg, West Virginia, Bagent attended Division II Shepherd University, where he spent five seasons. The odds of him signing a $10 million NFL contract one day probably felt incredibly slim. As he revealed during an emotional press conference, his father didn't even have running water until high school. Now, he's a millionaire. "We are fortunate to ensure that Tyson remains a member of […]
Stellar Pitchers, Big Bats, and a Pennant Race: Red Sox-Yankees Will Have It All
<!--> [--> Deesha Thosar MLB Writer <!--> --> Two of MLB's biggest brands entered the season with something to prove.The Yankees? Getting back to the World Series after last October’s humbling exit. The Red Sox? Reach the playoffs for the first time since 2021. But this season, these perennial powers are chasing instead of pacing the league, which has actually led to one of more thrilling pennant races this year. It only adds to the tension of a highly-anticipated four-game series that begins on Thursday in the Bronx.Here are five storylines to follow before the most iconic rivalry in baseball takes center stage. Old Rivalry, New MeaningIt’s not Jason Varitek and Alex Rodriguez getting into a shoving match and inciting a benches-clearing brawl for the ages. It’s not Pedro Martinez throwing 72-year-old bench coach Don Zimmer to the ground. It’s not Derek […]
WATCH: Little League World Series foul ball shatters TV camera
Getty Images The Little League World Series is off to a smashing start, but a couple of teams just took that literally. During a game between the Metro Region and the Mountain Region, a foul ball took out one of the television cameras.On Wednesday, the Metro and Mountain regions were locked in a tight battle when the Mountain Region pitcher challenged the batter. SJ Taxiltaridis swung and fouled a spinner straight back to the back stop.That slight redirection sent the ball hurtling into the television camera, which smashed into countless pieces upon impact. It was the type of play you could try to replicate 1,000 times and never do it again. This matchup isn't notable simply for the property damage. The Metro and the Mountain regions are battling for a spot in the US Final. The loser of this game […]
Browns’ Myles Garrett declines to comment on latest speeding ticket, tells reporter to ‘ask another question’
Police stopped Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett earlier this month for speeding, marking at least his eighth offense since his 2017 arrival in the NFL. And in his first media availability since he received the citation, he pushed back against questions regarding the matter in a tense exchange with reporters.Garrett drove 100 mph in a 60 mph zone hours after Cleveland's preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers. Police records show he was pulled over in his Ferrari on Interstate 71 at 2 a.m. in Strongsville, Ohio, south of the Browns' facility. He received a ticket and was summoned to appear in court the following week unless he paid the $250 fine."I'd honestly rather talk about football and this team than anything I'm doing off the field, other than the back-to-school event that I did the other day," Garrett said when first asked […]
Be the first to leave a comment