With the Fever needing to survive without Caitlin Clark, an unlikely source in Aari McDonald has stepped up. Jacob Rude covers Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever as an in-person, credentialed journalist based in Indianapolis for SB Nation, in addition to writing and managing Lakers coverage at Silver Screen and Roll.

In the Indiana Fever's win over the Mystics on Tuesday, Brookside Christian grad Aari McDonald provided a defensive boost in her debut.

Indiana (4-4) dominated the Chicago Sky (2-5) and Angel Reese on Saturday night, 77-52, as Fever guard Caitlin Clark missed her fourth straight game. It's now consecutive wins for Indiana minus Clark after they had dropped their first two minus the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year.

The Indiana Fever downed the Chicago Sky, 79-52, at the United Center in Chicago Saturday night. Indiana got significant contributions from players across its rotation. Guard Kelsey

Aari McDonald came to the Fever on an emergency hardship contract after injuries to Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham and Sydney Colson.

Kelsey Mitchell scored 17 points, Natasha Howard added 13 and Indiana never trailed Saturday night as the Fever beat the Chicago Sky 79-52. Indiana (4-4), which beat Washington 85-76 last time out to snap a three-game skid,