Aari McDonald and Trinity Baptiste will no longer wear the Arizona uniform but they will uphold the reputation of Adia Barnes’ program in the WNBA starting this summer.
That visibility will make a significant recruiting impact with what Barnes is trying to achieve long-term at Arizona.
The Atlanta Dream just got a great one!! Can’t wait to see @AariMcdonald play this summer!!
— ADIA BARNES COPPA 🐻⬇️🌵👨👨👧👦❤️💙 (@AdiaBarnes) April 16, 2021
The @IndianaFever just got a great one! Trinity you are now able to fulfill your dream!
— ADIA BARNES COPPA 🐻⬇️🌵👨👨👧👦❤️💙 (@AdiaBarnes) April 16, 2021
Two players from Arizona taken in the same WNBA Draft has not occurred since 2002, when LaKeisha Taylor and Elizabeth Pickney were taken in the fourth round — Taylor by Indiana (49th pick) and Pickney by Sacramento (60th pick).
McDonald was the No. 3 overall pick taken in the first round by the Atlanta Dream, further solidifying her lofty place in Arizona basketball history.
Baptiste, who played some of her best games of the season in the magical NCAA Tournament run, was taken in the second round, the 24th pick overall, by the Indiana Fever.
Here are some noteworthy tweets involving the selections of McDondald and Baptiste:
Is there a higher honor than J.J. Watt calling McDonald a “badass”?
Congratulations on your selection in the #WNBADraft, @AariMcdonald.
You’ve made Arizona incredibly proud and we can’t wait to see what you do next.
Y’all got a great one, @AtlantaDream. @JJWatt x @WNBA pic.twitter.com/q1r82buUNw
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) April 16, 2021
Another prominent Phoenix pro sports athlete praising McDonald:
Excited to watch @AariMcdonald in the W….watched her in the ncaa tournament and she is tough!!!!! @WNBA
— Chris Paul (@CP3) April 15, 2021
Elizabeth Williams, a former Duke standout, is looking forward to being a teammate of McDonald’s with the Dream:
LETTTT’S GOOOOO!! @AariMcdonald Welcome to the A! @AtlantaDream #WNBADraft
— Elizabeth Williams (@E_Williams_1) April 15, 2021
Somewhat of an interesting twist — Chennedy Carter is the idol of Arizona’s high-profile Class of 2022 guard recruit Kailyn Gilbert. McDonald and Carter will be teammates with the Dream.
AARI !!! let’s get it !!! 🔥🔥🔥 #backcourt
— H O L L Y W O O D 🛬 (@ChennedyCarter) April 15, 2021
Meaningful shoutout for McDonald from Renee Montgomery, part owner of the Dream who won two WNBA titles with the Minnesota Lynx, a favorite team of McDonald’s before heading to college.
Welcome to the Dream @AariMcdonald
Certified Baller! I see the heart 🖤 #WNBADraft— Renee Montgomery (@ReneeMontgomery) April 15, 2021
Keep in mind her real name is Aarion, hence the AIR-ee pronunciation. Just think an incoming recruit is named Aaronette Vonleh. She does not go by Aari, however.
Aari McDonald with the neon lights telling you how to pronounce her name is so damn cool pic.twitter.com/TZLAM8Eed2
— Mark (@tole_cover) April 15, 2021
Yikes!
AARI MCDONALD, CHENNEDY CARTER AND COURTNEY WILLIAMS IN ONE BACKCOURT 🔥🔥🔥🔥
— Matt Ellentuck (@mellentuck) April 15, 2021
McDonald and Baptiste facing the future toward the WNBA.
🗣PROS pic.twitter.com/PclJXoCfJO
— Arizona Women’s Basketball (@ArizonaWBB) April 16, 2021
Look how relieved Atlanta coach Nicki Collen and president/general manager Chris Sienko look that the Dallas Wings did not take McDonald with the No. 2 pick. Hilarious question at the end: “Do people cheer?” Go right ahead.
Locked in 🕖 #GoDream | @AariMcdonald pic.twitter.com/MTKWVh28Ec
— Aatlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) April 15, 2021
Joan Bonvicini has the image of being the mom of the program with how she was the first to get Arizona women’s basketball rolling.
I am so excited for @AariMcdonald @AtlantaDream! What an accomplishment for you, your family @ArizonaWBB @AdiaBarnes #WNBADraft #BearDown
— Joan Bonvicini (@CoachBonvicini) April 15, 2021
Congratulations Trinity Baptiste @AariMcdonald for achieving your @WNBA dream. Way to represent @ArizonaWBB @AdiaBarnes #WNBADraft
— Joan Bonvicini (@CoachBonvicini) April 16, 2021
What a difference a year makes — almost to the day, on April 14 last year, Baptiste announced her transfer to Arizona from Virginia Tech. Now look at her:
Congratulations to Trinity Baptiste on being drafted by the @IndianaFever 🔥#WNBA | #BearDown pic.twitter.com/tOd3hnX9ox
— Arizona Women’s Basketball (@ArizonaWBB) April 16, 2021
OFFICIAL: With the 24th pick in the 2021 #WNBADraft, we have selected Arizona forward Trinity Baptiste.#OurWayUnscripted x #FeverDraft pic.twitter.com/nEUn5viled
— Indiana Fever ⛹️♀️🏀 (@IndianaFever) April 16, 2021
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon.
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