Calmed by her coaches in the face of Caitlin Clark’s intensity in the Fever-Aces duel: Aari McDonald steps up to the plate

Kelsey Mitchell dropped 21 points, while Natasha Howard and Aliyah Boston both contributed double-doubles to help the Indiana Fever post a hard-fought 80–70 home win against the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday.

Victory was even sweeter considering that the locals were without star player Caitlin Clark, who remains out indefinitely with a groin injury - an issue that forced her to sit out last weekend’s WNBA All-Star game and 3-Point contest.

McDonald steps to the fore

Clark’s replacement Aari McDonald played a decisive role in the win - in her third appearance for the team, the guard contributed a huge 3-for-3 from three, two rebounds, four assists and a couple of steals.

In the three games she has played for Stephanie White’s team , the former third overall pick has averaged 8 points, 2.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.0 steals - plus 38.5% shooting from beyond the arc.

Understandably, the coach is very pleased - and was impressed with McDonald’s heroic 25-foot three point jumper with 30 seconds left on the clock. “She’s putting in the work. she understands momentum, she understands timing, she understands the flow of the game and that was just a big shot and she shot it with confidence, there was no hesitation and that’s what I want to see,” White told reporters afterwards.

When will Caitlin Clark return?

As for Caitlin Clark, no date has been set for her return. She has played 13 games this season, with an average of 16.5 points, five rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. Her shooting dipped before her injury but the Fever are clearly weaker without her.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.