However, there wasn't a close competition between which point guard made Indiana look sharper on the court. McDonald, a hardship exemption addition by the Fever after her surprise cut by the Los Angeles Sparks, is a perfect fit in Fever coach Stephanie White's system.

The Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever are joined at the hip. So are their two biggest stars: point guards Tyrese Haliburton and Caitlin Clark. That isn't changing anytime soon, if ever.

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.

The Indiana Fever will be without veteran forward DeWanna Bonner for Saturday's WNBA Commissioner’s Cup matchup against the New York Liberty.