The Indiana Fever spent much of the 2025 WNBA season navigating injuries, and few teams were tested more at the guard position.

Second-year superstar Caitlin Clark appeared in just 13 games, yet first-year head coach Stephanie White managed to steady the roster and guide Indiana to a 24-20 record and a playoff run that ended just one win short of the WNBA Finals.

Paige Bueckers addresses a major misconception about her

When Clark went down early, the Fever leaned heavily on Aari McDonald.

The 27-year-old guard quickly emerged as a spark plug, winning over fans with her pace, toughness, and shot-making. Her breakout moment came on July 30, when she erupted for a career-high 27 points against the Phoenix Mercury.

That momentum, however, was cut short in August when McDonald suffered a broken foot, joining Sydney Colson and Sophie Cunningham on the season-ending injury list.

Despite the setback, McDonald turned her strong summer showing into an offseason opportunity, signing with Breeze in the Unrivaled 3-on-3 basketball league. Monday night marked her first competitive action in nearly five months, a moment she clearly had circled.

“Today is my first time playing in almost 5 months,” McDonald posted on X ahead of the opener.

A frightening moment during McDonald’s Unrivaled return

The comeback, however, took an unsettling turn. Breeze defeated Phantom 69-62 behind 24 points from Paige Bueckers, but McDonald logged just six minutes, scoring two points before exiting midway through the third quarter.

After committing an intentional foul, she immediately walked back to the locker room alongside team staff, sparking concern among fans and teammates alike.

The nature of the issue was unclear, and McDonald did not return to the game. Given her recent injury history, and the Fever’s injury-plagued 2025 campaign, it was the last sight supporters wanted to see.

Fortunately, the scare proved to be short-lived. On Tuesday, McDonald reassured fans with a brief but welcome update.

“Had a little scare last night,” McDonald wrote on X. “I’m all good yall.”

Assuming no lingering issues, she is expected back on the floor Friday when Breeze faces Hive at 8:45 p.m. ET on TNT and truTV.

The matchup adds another layer of intrigue, as McDonald is set to square off against fellow Fever standout Kelsey Mitchell, who scored 11 points in Hive‘s season-opening loss to Mist.

For McDonald, simply being healthy and back on the court is the biggest victory. After a year defined by resilience in Indiana, avoiding another long-term setback may be just as important as anything she does on the scoreboard this offseason.

Luka Doncic ‘destroys’ the Mavs on his return. Gets standing ovation and shows love to Mark Cuban

Luka Doncic hits 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles.

It’s rare for a home crowd to cheer the visiting team, but Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was no ordinary night.

Just days before February’s trade deadline, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by sending their 26-year-old superstar to the Lakers—a move that outraged fans and sparked backlash toward GM Nico Harrison.

On Wednesday, Doncic played his first game back in Dallas since the trade. The arena was filled with fans in both his old Mavs and new Lakers jerseys, many chanting “Fire Nico” in protest.

Despite the emotion in the air, Doncic delivered a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112-97 win. It was a powerful return for one of the league’s brightest stars—and a night Dallas won’t soon forget

The Mavericks pay tribute to Luka Dončić

While the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic remains heavily criticized, they handled his return to Dallas with undeniable grace. The organization made sure his first game back as a Laker was met with respect and appreciation.

Every seat in the arena was draped with a T-shirt reading “Hvala za vse,” which translates from Slovenian to “thank you for everything.” It was a thoughtful nod to Doncic’s heritage and impact on the franchise.

Before tip-off, during the starting lineup announcements, the Mavericks played a tribute video showcasing some of Doncic’s most iconic moments in a Dallas jersey. The emotional gesture clearly resonated—moving Doncic to tears in front of the crowd that once called him their own.

Luka Doncic ‘DESTROYS’ his old team

Luka delivered a dazzling performance against his former team, putting up 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a game that showed exactly why he’s one of the best in the league.

From the opening tip, Doncic was locked in. By halftime, Doncic had racked up 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting in just 19 minutes—marking the 10th time in his career he’s scored 30 or more in a single half.

Though his scoring slowed in the second half, he continued to lead effectively, securing both a Lakers win and an unforgettable showing for the fans in Dallas.