Aari McDonald Bio: Net Worth, Salary, and Professional Career

Aari McDonald is one of the most explosive young talents in the WNBA, thanks to her tireless defensive efforts, fast pace, and accurate shooting abilities. From a successful college career, McDonald has grown into a promising WNBA player, and you can tell her determination on the basketball court is unparalleled. The statistics, complications, and drama in professional sports often revolve around the game, but for her, they are composed of breathtaking numbers and competitions and of a captivating game, which makes fans ever want more. McDonald is proving to be a formidable force in the WNBA as she makes significant strides.

Aari McDonald's Early Life

Aari McDonald, born August 20, 1998, in Fresno, California, is the youngest of six children in a very strong sports family. Her mother, Andrea, who played basketball, trained and practiced Aari in the backyard, instilling confidence and competitiveness in her from an early age. Aaron, Aari's father, was a stud football and basketball player at Bakersfield High School and later at Bakersfield College.

Aari's parents always believed that limits are meant to be pushed, particularly with Aari's stature always being smaller than her competition. Aari started out at Bullard High School and, after a year, transferred to Brookside Christian High School in Stockton. It was there at Brookside where she made a large name for herself with amazing performances, including many triple-doubles and even a quadruple-double. Aari scored close to 1,500 points and received National attention. She earned a scholarship to play Division-1 basketball, and at this point was ranked among the top point guard recruits in the United States. Aari's upbringing in a close family with athletes molded her mindset and determination, and she continued this preparation into college and professional basketball.

Aari McDonald Personal Information

Aari McDonald is recognized not just for her athleticism, intense defensive approach, and fearless play. Aari would utilize her hustle and basketball IQ and transform herself into one of the most gifted guards in the WNBA and beyond. Aari's personal and athletic history begins to explain the hard work and desire she has exhibited to go from an extremely talented high school player to a young professional athlete internationally. Each small fact presented below can treasure the valuable accomplishments Aari has made, personally and professionally.

Aari McDonald Personal Life

Aari McDonald is married to Devon Brewer, who played defensive back at the University of Arizona, but their relationship began in Fresno, California, before they reconnected while both were at the University of Arizona. They became engaged right after the 2020 Pac-12 Women's Basketball tournament and were married on September 23, 2021. Brew is a Behavioral Health Technician, and he has been supportive of Aari's nonstop since day one, but wanted to support her career and travels to the new places she is going. He has traveled with Aari while she played professionally, and began his own WNBA offseason in countries such as Australia and China. Aari often shares about the significance of her focus, the importance of staying grounded, and her confidence playing and living so far away from home, which Devon Brewer has helped her with.

Aari has shared that they have respect for one another, share similar goals and ambitions, and the two play a supportive role for one another through the highs and lows of being a pro. Aari and Devon do not have children as of 2025, travel together, and continue to support each other's pursuits. Aari's partnership off the court with Brew, ultimately, gives her a strong partner who supports and perhaps adds to her confidence and success on the court.

Aari McDonald's Parents

Aari McDonald's parents are Andrea and Aaron McDonald. Their efforts and contributions to her basketball journey have certainly been impactful. Andrea, the mom, played high school basketball and was one of Aari's earliest coaches. In shaping Aari into the player she is today, Andrea would have Aari practice in the backyard, teaching her to be aggressive, to take charges, and, yes, even to dive for the loose ball.
The impact Andrea had on Aari afforded her the fearlessness and strong-mindedness to compete against bigger athletes. Aari's father, Aaron, was an athlete too. An All-State football player and All-State basketball player at Bakersfield High School, he went on to play college football. He was inducted into the Bakersfield High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Aaron always provided Aari an edge and made sure to always stay above water mentally when Aari had her moments of struggle. Both Andrea and Aaron were involved in Aari's athletic career and showed dedication to attending games and recognizing her accomplishments and growth.
Aari has always said how much her parents helped her to become her best self and that they created a space for her to dream big with confidence.

Aari McDonald Husband

Devon Brewer, a former University of Arizona football player, is Aari McDonald's husband. The pair met while in Fresno, CA, and cultivated a friendship while Aari played basketball for Arizona. And after winning the Pac-12 title in 2020, Devon proposed to Aari, and they married on September 23, 2021. Throughout the course of their relationship and as Aari embarked on her basketball journey, Devon was personally, professionally, and emotionally influenced. He made sacrifices while supporting Aari during her travels to play basketball overseas in countries such as Hungary, Australia, and China, to be with her.

Aari has repeatedly stated that when she returned from playing overseas, Devon helped her with the transition into another job market and, most importantly, kept her motivated and mentally and physically healthy during the international playing season. Currently, Devon is a behavioral health technician, and he continues to support Aari as an unconditional and whole partner while she pursues her basketball career. Devon was wise enough in the relationship to allow Aari to see how to invite balance into his and her personal-professional relationship through partial experimentation with other ways to balance the demands of his professional career, while managing the continual battle with confronting the fear of emotional demons.

Aari McDonald Contract

Aari signed her first WNBA contract starting in 2021 after being drafted as the third overall pick by the Atlanta Dream for the 2021 WNBA season. Aari McDonald's contract was for a standard three-year rookie deal for a total of $220,067 that increased every year. In 2021, her salary was essentially $70,040; in 2022, her salary was $71,441; and in 2023, her salary increased to $78,586. In 2024, Aari's team exercised its option, and she made $89,302 for that season. Aari was then traded to the Los Angeles Sparks prior to the 2024 WNBA season. Following the completion of that WNBA season, the Sparks waived Aari before the start of the 2025 WNBA season, but offered her the option of a qualifying contract for about $93,767. Aari did not sign the qualifying contract; rather, Aari signed a hardship contract with the Indiana Fever in June of 2025 due to injuries to players on their roster. Hardship contracts are good short-term contracts that pay a fair salary.

Aari made a good impression with the Fever, and on June 25, the Fever re-signed her for the remainder of the 2025 WNBA season. Aari has gone through a lot of different ups and downs during her career, but she has continued to show she is worth a place on a WNBA roster with her play, the positions she has been able to put herself in, and her ability to play whatever position the team roster needed her at that time for the LA Sparks and the Indiana Fever. Her contract history is one of resilience and dedication to make it in the WNBA.

Aari McDonald Salary

While playing in the WNBA, Aari McDonald has made more than $309,000 in earnings. She played her first season in 2021 on a rookie deal, so her 2021 salary was $70,040. The following season, her salary slightly increased to $71,441 in 2022. The most recent season was $78,586 in 2023. In the previous season, 2024, Aari earned the highest salary she has received in the WNBA, which was $89,302, based on the Atlanta Dream exercising her 2024 team option.

In the following season, 2025, at the end of training camp, she was waived by the Los Angeles Sparks, and she was to earn approximately $78,831 during the regular season. Instead, she signed an injury hardship contract with the Indiana Fever. Generally, hardship contracts are short-term or temporary contracts, but Aari earned a prorated veteran minimum base salary of about $52,333 and a hardship payment of about $6,000 on top of her base salary. Aari McDonald's WNBA salary history illustrates an established professional career and a record of earning money playing professional basketball in domestic and international leagues.

Aari McDonald's Net Worth

According to estimates, Aari McDonald's net worth in 2025 is estimated at $1 million-$1.5 million in net worth, mostly due to her WNBA salary of over $309K since being drafted in 2021. Besides her time in the WNBA, Aari has also played overseas in Hungary, Australia, and China, where salaries are typically higher than in the WNBA. Her greatest success came with the Perth Lynx in Australia, where she finished as the leading scorer in the WNBL and All-League player! While we do not know specific salary details from international play, players of Aari's level usually earn a net income of over $100,000 per season.

Aari also had brand endorsements, income from social media, and possibly NIL deals that remain private. It was reported that she owns a BMW X3 and a Toyota Camry, which demonstrate some investment in personal assets as well. She could also have income tied to her Instagram following and sports world showtime via sponsored content. As Aari continues in her professional career and builds her brand, her earnings and net worth will likely increase substantially over the next couple of years.

Aari McDonald Career

McDonald, through her career in the WNBA, has realistically developed her game. But as she makes herself comfortable in the role, her perimeter scoring ability, assists, and even steals have all gone up, as can be seen from her numbers. McDonald’s accurate aimed shots and quick reflexes are important weapons for The Fever, particularly during the crucial fixtures where her defending talents are best displayed.

Aari McDonald High School Career

Aari McDonald began her high school basketball career at Bullard High School in Fresno, California, before transferring to Brookside Christian High School in Stockton, when she had finished her freshman season. She landed at Brookside and made an instant impact as one of the top players in the state. In only two seasons, Aari scored almost 1,500 points, including many triple-doubles and a four-point game. As a junior, she averaged 26.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Aari had come under the radar by MaxPreps and The Stockton Record, and was recognized by being named All-State Third Team. Aari was quick, could shoot the deep shot, explosive around the rim, had a creative handle, and was effective defensively.

Recruiting sources rated Aari a top 10 point guard in the country, and she quickly became one of the hottest recruits in the state of California. Aari's unbelievable high school all-around play helped her obtain a scholarship in college to help her be successful in the NCAA. All of Aari's experiences throughout high school translated into the foundation of her work ethic and competitive mindset that she will carry with her to college.

Aari McDonald College Career

Aari McDonald started her college career at the University of Washington in the 2016–17 season. In her freshman season, she recorded an average of 9.8 points and 2.2 rebounds per game, showing promise early on. After coaching changes happened and to address personal events, Aari ended up transferring to the University of Arizona, where she was able to grow into a superstar. While Aari sat out the 2017–18 season because of transfer rules, she entered the 2018–19 season with a chip on her shoulder.

Aari made history that season by scoring an incredible 890 points to set a new total for single-season points in Arizona women's basketball history, averaging 24.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game over the season. She was named First-Team All-Pac-12 and put herself back out there on the national stage. Aari's success continued in her junior year when she led Arizona to a stunning 24–7 record and was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. In her senior season, Aari was able to lead Arizona to the NCAA Championship Game for the first time in program history. She was named Pac-12 Player of the Year and received consensus All-American accolades; she ended up averaging one of Arizona's all-time greatest players at 19.6 points per game.

Aari McDonald’s Professional Career

McDonald is renowned for her intensity on defense and for being an efficient shooter. She was the defensive player of the year while in college; she has absolutely continued that reputation in the WNBA, and she is one of the best defenders in the league. Her offensive numbers have improved; more importantly, she has grown as an efficient shooter, and her scoring average has gone up.

Another remarkable game from her career came during her competitive matchup with the Minnesota Lynx, where she displayed her bag of tricks. She was moving inside the Lynx defense, and on the other end, her defense held the other team's guards in check. McDonald also has a way of making her game rise in games against tough rival teams, as she has demonstrated in the clutch. The seasonal development of Aari McDonald is gonna be a bullet point in showing her willingness to improve and adjust in the WNBA's pressure situations. In addition, her advanced stats from the 2023 season suggested growth in scoring, playmaking, and defensive efficiency, which all pointed positively, and she can only be productive for the Fever. Aari McDonald's stats are in the table below:

Aari McDonald Awards and Achievements

Aari McDonald has received several accolades during her basketball career for her excellent play. From her days of dominating the game in college to her upcoming debut in the WNBA and internationally, McDonald has a long list of accomplishments on her radar. These were all given to McDonald as individual awards, showing her talent, leadership, and influence on each league she has played in. The following chart represents a selection of awards McDonald has accomplished to this point.