Sparks make crucial Aari McDonald decision ahead of WNBA free agency
The WNBA free agency period is set to begin on Jan. 21, but in the meantime teams are allowed to tender qualifying offers to reserved and restricted free agents as well as assign core designations. The Los Angeles Sparks made one such move ahead of the WNBA free agency period by tendering a qualifying offer to restricted free agent Aari McDonald.
Aari McDonald is a restricted free agent and therefore the Sparks would be able to match any offer she receives in free agency. McDonald had been in the final year of her rookie scale contract she had signed with the Atlanta Dream.
The contract decision was a given and is a sign the Sparks believe the former Arizona star is a part of their future. The Sparks hold the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft for the second year in a row. Last season they used that pick on former Stanford star Cameron Brink. Brink was having a strong rookie year before suffering a season-ending ACL injury.
For a team that is firmly mired in a rebuild, a veteran presence at point guard like McDonald would be a good thing to have.
https://clutchpoints.com/sparks-news-la-aari-mcdonald-decision-wnba-free-agency