Let’s double down on the Iowa Premier gang. Must-see defensive talent is not limited to those wearing a different color. McDonald was a mainstay in the Iowa Premier lineup last weekend, patrolling the middle-back area as a primary DS. The dynamic shifted as soon as she rotated in, as McDonald did not hesitate to make calls and rally her backcourt companions. This is the kind of ball control specialist you can’t keep off the floor, and her high standing in the 2028 rankings is clearly warranted.

McDonald has improved a great deal since I first scouted her as a Cedar Rapids Xavier freshman in 2024. Then, she was a defensive specialist and effective server. Now, she’s coming off a prep campaign that saw her command the back row while wearing the jersey for Iowa City West in its return to the state tournament in the past fall. From the start of the season at the Prep Dig Sizzle to the a return to Xtreme Arena for state, McDonald noticeably sharpened her game. She switched from United to Premier for club ball. A spot on the state’s top team for her age group will expose McDonald to high-level national competition. That continues this weekend when Premier lines up at the Triple Crown invite in Kansas City.

McDonald went from an under-utilized DS as a freshman at Xavier and in club ball last year to a lock-down back-rower for an Iowa City West team that reached the state tournament this fall. Like most liberos, she picked up her consistency, helping keep the Trojans in system in order to set up a talented group of hitters along the net. McDonald is improving at reading the opposing attack and identifying any tendencies from the other team, placing her in better positions to make plays. She’s also gotten better delivering opportunities for the pins off of the two ball. McDonald was one of the state’s most improved players in 2025, and she has chance to take another significant step forward in the new year.