Lexie Hull Had Two Words for Aari McDonald After Return to Indiana Fever
Lexie Hull had an exciting reaction to a recent announcement made by the Indiana Fever.
The Fever signed guard Aari McDonald under an emergency hardship contract in early June to help fill roster gaps due to injuries. McDonald brought energy off the bench and quickly earned praise for her defensive intensity. After the team's health stabilized and they had 10 active players on their roster, the Fever released her, as hardship rules require.
Advertisement
But on Wednesday, the Fever announced on social media that they have signed McDonald for the rest of the season. Meanwhile, veteran forward DeWanna Bonner, who requested a trade, was waived and parted ways with the team.
"we have signed Aari McDonald for the remainder of the season," wrote the Fever in an Instagram caption. "in a corresponding move, we have waived DeWanna Bonner."
Many players celebrated her return, including Hull, who reposted the announcement on her Instagram story. McDonald later shared Hull's story on her own account.
"she's baaaaaaaaack," Hull wrote as a caption, tagging McDonald's Instagram.
Advertisement
Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull (10) celebrates with Indiana Fever guard Aari McDonald (2).© Grace Smith-INDIANAPOLIS STAR-Imagn Images
Over the three games she played with the Fever, McDonald averaged 11.0 points, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game, showcasing her strong defense and playmaking ability.
The 26-year-old athlete rose to prominence at the University of Arizona, where she led the Wildcats to their first-ever NCAA championship game appearance in 2021 and earned multiple All-America honors and back-to-back Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year awards. McDonald was then selected third overall in the 2021 WNBA Draft by the Atlanta Dream. Over her WNBA career, she played for the Dream and the Los Angeles Sparks.
McDonald is expected to suit up for the Fever's next game, which is on Thursday against the Sparks at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse at 7 p.m. ET.
Advertisement
Related: Lexie Hull Turns Heads with Pregame Outfit for Fever-Sky
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
24 minutes ago
- New York Times
President Trump says he'll attend Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium
United States President Donald Trump will be at the Club World Cup final on Sunday. Speaking with reporters at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Trump confirmed his plans to attend the 3 p.m. final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The match will pit Chelsea, 2-0 winners over Fluminense on Tuesday, against either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain. Advertisement 'I'll be going the game,' he told reporters at the White House, after his nearly two-hour meeting. The confirmation comes a day after FIFA revealed that the organization opened a New York office at Trump Tower ahead of the men's World Cup next summer. Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino have forged a closed relationship that has become more visible following's Trump re-election. Infantino was there for Trump's victory rally in Washington, D.C., and also at his inauguration. He has described the two as having a 'great friendship.' Trump was president when FIFA awarded the 2026 World Cup to the United States, Mexico and Canada back in 2018. He resumed power in time to be at the helm of the co-host nation next year. Infantino was at an event at Trump Tower on Monday to launch a five-day exhibition of the Club World Cup trophy when he announced that FIFA would be moving in. 'We have to be in New York – not just for the FIFA Club World Cup this year and the FIFA World Cup next year – we have to be in New York as well when it comes to where our offices are based,' Infantino said at the event, as Trump's son, Eric, stood beside him. He made sure to thank President Trump, 'who is a big fan of soccer.' Infantino has praised Trump as a staunch supporter of FIFA and its many events taking place in the United States. Last week, Trump's 'big, beautiful' budget bill included a $625 million line item for security funding for next summer's World Cup. The FIFA head has spent the last year visiting the White House and the president's Florida base Mar-a-Lago on numerous occasions. He accompanied Trump on a recent tour of the Gulf, a trip Infantino prioritized over FIFA's annual congress in Paraguay in May. The decision drew sharp criticism from European football chiefs, who staged a dramatic walkout. Advertisement So, it's not surprising that Trump would be present at the Club World Cup final, given his close ties to Infantino. Last month, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy told reporters that he also invited Trump to the tournament's championship match. '(I) invited him to the Club World Cup final,' Murphy said during a brief press availability at Liberty State Park, exactly one year before the start of the 2026 World Cup. He joked, 'I'm not sure he could come.' Turns out, Trump would. Before Trump's press availability ended on Tuesday, a reporter asked if he'd be bringing the trophy to the game on Sunday. The president quipped: 'Yeah, I'm going to deliver it. I have it in my office.' He then smiled. While it seems fair to assume that Trump was referring to the Club World Cup trophy on display at Trump Tower, he could have been making a joking reference to the replica World Cup trophy he's displayed previously in the White House.
Associated Press
31 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Twins top Cubs 8-1 behind strong start from Simeon Woods Richardson and late power surge
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Simeon Woods Richardson outpitched Shota Imanaga with five scoreless innings, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Chicago Cubs 8-1 on Tuesday night. Ryan Jeffers had three RBIs and the first of three homers for the Twins in a six-run eighth off Porter Hodge, who was also taken deep by Willi Castro and Harrison Bader and got just one out. Royce Lewis drove in two runs, and All-Star Byron Buxton and Jeffers greeted Imanaga (5-3) with back-to-back doubles to start a two-run first inning. The left-hander, who was an All-Star as an MLB rookie last year, finished six innings for the first time since April 4 after missing nearly two months with a strained hamstring. The Twins again shielded Woods Richardson (5-4) from the toughest matchups, turning to the bullpen for the third time through the heart of the order of Kyle Tucker, Seiya Suzuki, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Michael Busch, who present as daunting a challenge in the second through fifth spots as there is in baseball. The decision paid off, despite Woods Richardson throwing only 61 pitches, against the highest-scoring team in the major leagues. Brock Stewart struck out Dansby Swanson with runners at the corners to end the sixth. Justin Turner's 200th career home run in the ninth ended the shutout. Key moment Griffin Jax gave up a single and a walk with a two-run lead to start the eighth, before striking out Suzuki and Crow-Armstrong and retiring Busch on a line drive to right. Key stat Woods Richardson, who spent nearly a month in Triple-A earlier this season, has allowed just 11 hits in 26 innings with a 1.38 ERA over his last five starts. Up next RHP Cade Horton (3-2, 4.15 ERA) starts the middle game of the series on Wednesday for the Cubs, opposite Twins RHP David Festa (2-3, 5.48). ___ AP MLB:
New York Times
35 minutes ago
- New York Times
NHL trade grades: Oilers, Lightning pull off top prospects swap
Edmonton Oilers get: Winger Isaac Howard Tampa Bay Lightning get: Center Sam O'Reilly Isaac Howard was the top player in college hockey this season, winning the Hobey Baker Award. He's a super-skilled offensive player who can make a lot happen inside the offensive zone. He sees the ice well, is a shifty skater and can create offense with good enough pace. He also has a very good shot and can finish chances from midrange. However, Howard isn't the biggest winger. He can be pushed to the outside and doesn't have the super high compete level you would ideally like at his size. He projects as a middle-six scoring winger in the NHL. Advertisement Sam O'Reilly was an important center for OHL London, playing on both special teams. He competes hard, creates a lot of offense at the net-front and has physicality. He's a solid skater who can transition pucks and can skate at the top level. O'Reilly has quality skill and vision, and tries to create offense in a direct, translatable way. I wouldn't call his puck play a true standout part of his game, though. London was a deep offensive team this year, and O'Reilly didn't get the prime power-play minutes. He likely will get that chance next season and will have a better chance to showcase his skill. Currently, he projects as a bottom-six forward. I like Howard a bit more as a prospect. He has notably more offensive potential. That said, his preference to want NHL games right away, and his trade request being public, didn't give Tampa Bay a ton of leverage, especially given that his profile as a small, scoring winger isn't overly valuable. That the Lightning were able to procure a solid prospect at a more valuable position is decent for them, given the circumstances. Howard could play for the Oilers in the NHL next season, though, whereas O'Reilly is likely several seasons away. Edmonton: B+ Tampa Bay: B- (Photo of Isaac Howard: Michael Miller /)
