Like pretty much every WNBA team, the Los Angeles Sparks had to make some tough choices to finalize their 2025 roster. Aari McDonald was one of the last-minute casualties. She was cut alongside Maria Kliundikova and Shaneice Swain ahead of the Sparks’ season opener against the Golden State Valkyries. 

Cutting Aari McDonald was a rather surprising move by the Sparks. She had been a solid backup point guard over the four previous seasons, including a 26-game stint with the Sparks in 2024. By now, the move looks pretty bad, as McDonald is thriving with the Indiana Fever and the Sparks are struggling.

Aari McDonald landed a contract with the Fever

After the Sparks waived her, McDonald had to enter the season without a WNBA contract. When the Fever encountered some injury trouble, she earned a hardship contract and immediately impressed. However, the Fever’s hands were tied, and, when Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham returned from injury, they had to cut McDonald. 

A tough blow for the Fever was a blessing for McDonald. DeWanna Bonner, Indiana’s prized offseason addition, decided she didn’t want to play for the Fever anymore. Rather than trading her, Indiana cut Bonner and immediately re-signed McDonald, giving her another chance. 

It was a brilliant move. McDonald provides defense, playmaking, and dynamic scoring for a Fever team in need of all of those things. She has scored double digits in five consecutive games with the Fever, including a massive 74-59 win over the Minnesota Lynx in the Commissioner’s Cup final. With Clark out, McDonald got the start and didn’t disappoint. 

Over just six games, McDonald has handily earned a spot as the Fever’s primary backup guard and made the Sparks look foolish for waiving her.

The Sparks’ guard rotation is thin behind Kelsey Plum

Kelsey Plum has been great for the Sparks, averaging 20.6 points, 3 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. The guard rotation behind her has been rather thin, though. 

Odyssey Sims had to miss a handful of games due to personal reasons, Julie Allemand played for Belgium in EuroBasket, Rae Burrell suffered a leg injury that will keep her out four to six weeks just one minute into the Sparks’ first game, Sarah Ashlee Barker is a rookie, and Shey Peddy just joined the Sparks on a hardship contract six games ago. 

Sims, Barker, and Peddy have been solid when available, but none of them have been as good as Aari McDonald has been for the Indiana Fever. In hindsight, the Sparks likely would have been better off keeping McDonald on the roster.