DeWanna Bonner was the Indiana Fever’s loudest addition to its Caitlin Clark-led core in 2025. She wound up playing only nine games before reportedly requesting the team trade or release her.
The team granted her the release after failing to find a trade partner, ending her tenure after only nine games, six of which she came off the bench.
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Now with the Phoenix Mercury, her old team of 11 years, and playing alongside fiancée Alyssa Thomas, Bonner is set to face the Fever for the first time this season on the road. Speaking with reporters this weekend, Bonner indicated she has no problems with how this season has so far worked out.
From the Associated Press:
Bonner’s time with the Fever began well enough, moving to third on the all-time scoring list in the team’s season opener. She was brought in to be the classic veteran addition to a young core, joining the team on a $200,000 unprotected contract in February.
As Yahoo Sports’ Cassandra Negley broke down at the time of her release, there was nothing but positivity around Bonner as the Fever entered the season. Both Bonner and head coach Stephanie White talked about her being a “puzzle piece” and Clark was seen in the opener urging her teammates to help Bonner reach the scoring milestone.
Three games in, however, the Fever pulled Bonner from the starting lineup in favor of Lexie Hull. Six games later, she was announced as out due to “personal reasons” and never played for the team again. Via the AP, she said the change from starter to bench player didn’t bother her:
Bonner has started only one of her five games with the Mercury this season, while averaging 13.4 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 47.8%, all numbers far better than her limited time with the Fever. Phoenix entered Saturday with the third-best record in the league at 15-9, while Indiana is sixth at 13-12.
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