Six-Time All-Star’s Brief Indiana Chapter Nears Its End
DeWanna Bonner is expected to part ways with the Indiana Fever after just nine games. The six-time all-star, who signed a one-year deal with the team this past offseason, has made it clear she wants to be traded or waived. Bonner has expressed interest in joining the Atlanta Dream or Phoenix Mercury. Her recent absence from the lineup, officially listed as “personal reasons,” has added to growing speculation about her future with the organization.
Tension had been building between DeWanna Bonner and the Indiana Fever throughout the early part of the season. Bonner started the first three games for Indiana before head coach Stephanie White moved her to a bench role, inserting Lexie Hull into the starting lineup. She came off the bench for the next six games before being ruled out of the following four due to “personal reasons.” In her nine-game stint with the Fever, Bonner averaged career lows of seven points and four rebounds per game. By contrast, she averaged 15 points and six rebounds last season with the Connecticut Sun. Over her 16-year WNBA career, Bonner had never previously averaged fewer than 10 points per game.
Phoenix is believed to be Bonner’s top destination, largely due to her desire to reunite with her wife, Alyssa Thomas, who joined the Mercury this past offseason. The two were longtime teammates with the Connecticut Sun and played a central role in the franchise’s success in past years. Their on-court chemistry and off-court relationship made them one of the league’s most recognized duos. A potential reunion in Phoenix would offer Bonner both a fresh start and a return to familiar ground following a turbulent stretch in Indiana.
Throughout her long and successful career, DeWanna Bonner has built a reputation as a professional and positive presence both on and off the court. She has rarely been involved in controversy or drama, making this sudden and unexpected departure from the Indiana Fever all the more striking. Whatever the underlying reasons, it’s clear that this moment represents a significant turning point for both Bonner and Fever. With details still emerging, the WNBA community anticipates what could become one of the most impactful moves of the season, reshaping not only Bonner’s career but potentially the dynamics of multiple teams.