Aari McDonald and Sam Thomas take on WNBA training camp

Photo by Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty ImagesEveryone’s road to WNBA training camp is different—even if they spent three years together at the same school.

Last season, Aari McDonald was the third pick in the 2021 WNBA Draft with all the hype that comes with being a lottery pick. This year, Sam Thomas didn’t hear her name called during the draft, but with the help of Arizona head coach Adia Barnes, she quickly found a training camp spot with the Phoenix Mercury.

“I was agent Barnes for the last couple weeks,” Barnes said on April 13. “It’s actually fun because most of my friends are coaches and GMs. So I was hoping there was a chance to possibly go in the third round, and I was trying to rally…