Rubuta ci gaba don wannan sakin layi - A cikin kakar 2000<unk>2001, McDonough ta fara fitowa a gasar ISU Junior Grand Prix. Ta lashe lambar tagulla a gasar ta farko da ta azurfa a karo na biyu, wanda ya cancanci ta zuwa wasan karshe na Junior Grand Prix. Ta ci gaba da lashe gasar Junior Grand Prix Final. McDonough ta fara wasan farko a gasar zakarun Amurka ta 2001 kuma ta kasance ta 7. Ta ci gaba zuwa gasar zakarun duniya ta 2001
, inda ta lashe lambar azurfa.