One by one, Indiana’s guards started dropping like dominoes. First, it was Caitlin Clark with a left quad injury, followed by Sydney Colson and Sophie Cunningham both getting hurt in the same game. It’s been a tough stretch for the Fever. With the backcourt depth in shambles, Coach Stephanie White had her hand forced as injuries piled up, leaving the Fever scrambling for backcourt help. Enter Aari McDonald, signed under an emergency hardship contract. While fans are buzzing to see what the former number 3 pick can bring to the floor, one national analyst wasted no time offering a reality check.With Caitlin Clark sidelined, the Fever were in desperate need of a ball handler and a defensive presence to support Kelsey Mitchell and Aari McDonald, checks both boxes. She has always been known for her speed, toughness, and defensive prowess. On paper, this is a very good signing. In her rookie year with the Atlanta Dream, Aari McDonald made an immediate impact, averaging 6.3 points, 2.0 assists, and 1.6 rebounds per game. Her efforts didn’t go unnoticed, as she finished second in Rookie of the Year voting and earned a spot on the WNBA All-Rookie Team. She built on that momentum in 2022, posting a career-best 11.1 points per game while shooting 41.1% from the field.That said, Rachel DeMita, for one, isn’t buying into the excitement around the new signing. Speaking on her YouTube channel, she said, “I was not worried about this hardship contract signing because whoever they sign is only going to play a couple of games. And it’s not like this player is going to come in and turn around this team.”And that very well might be the case. With Caitlin Clark likely to return after two more games and Sydney Colson already back in training, the odds of Aari McDonald playing a significant role for the Fever are pretty slim. She’ll get her shot against the Washington Mystics on June 3, but beyond that, it’s hard to see where she fits into the rotation once everyone is back fit.The WNBA’s hardship exception rules mean McDonald’s stay could be short-lived, once Clark or others return, the Fever must cut someone to meet the 12-player roster limit unless they free up cap space. This puts extra pressure on her to make an instant impact, especially with the team desperate to snap their losing streak.DeMita also stressed that while expectations are low, the guard must at least prove she won’t be a liability. She continued, “I feel like essentially you just can’t be a liability. And I feel very indifferent about them signing her. I hope that she does great, I hope that she performs on the court, I hope that gets her a longer-term contract in the WNBA, whether it’s with the Indiana Fever or with another team. But I’m really indifferent, and I probably would have been indifferent to whoever they chose to sign.”It remains to be seen how McDonald performs, especially since the past couple of seasons haven’t shown the best of her. Last season with the Sparks, she averaged 8.7 points on 40% shooting from the field and 3.7 assists per game, but it wasn’t enough to keep a roster spot with the Sparks.Now, with an emergency hardship contract, McDonald won’t get the usual benefits of a standard deal. Instead, she will get paid daily. According to WNBA analyst Richard Cohen, if she stays with the Fever for the rest of the season, she’ll make about $51,174 total, which is equivalent to roughly $497 a day. That said, coach Stephanie White had only positive things to say about the new signing. Let’s take a look at what she had to say.Stephanie White on Caitlin Clark’s newest teammateLeague rules let teams with fewer than 10 healthy players add extra help. That’s exactly what the Fever did when they signed Aari McDonald under the emergency hardship exception after losing three key players, including Caitlin Clark. The Fever started the season 2-4, so a change was needed. Coach White is pleased with McDonald’s addition.May 22, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White on the sideline against the Atlanta Dream in the first half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images“I mean, I’ve always been impressed with her ability to defend, her activity on the defensive end of the floor. Her ability to get to the paint and make a decision when she gets there. She is a true point guard, so she brings that energy, she brings the ability to dictate. And she has been really good so far. It has been a lot of information to absorb quickly, and she has done a great job with it” said the coach.With Clark out until at least June 10 due to a left quadriceps strain, her absence is a massive blow. The 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year was averaging 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 9.3 assists through her first four games, driving Indiana’s fast-paced offense and drawing huge crowds, her May 25 game against the Liberty pulled in 2.22 million viewers on CBS. Without her, the Fever have gone 0-2, and the team’s playoff hopes are at risk in a loaded WNBA field where teams like the Minnesota Lynx are off to a 7-0 start.Of course, fans will need to tone down their expectations with this new addition. Still, it will be interesting to see if the Fever can break their three-game losing streak in the upcoming rematch against the Mystics. Can they do it without Caitlin Clark? Stay tuned to find out.The post New Threat Looms For Caitlin Clark & Co. as National Analyst Downplays Indiana Fever’s Latest Signing appeared first on EssentiallySports.