Fever vs. Mercury: Why Did DeWanna Bonner Leave Indiana After 9 Games Played? originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
When the Indiana Fever play the Phoenix Mercury at home on Wednesday, plenty of eyes will be on a key opponent: DeWanna Bonner.
As the Fever faithful would know, Bonner was part of the team earlier in the season and played nine games, averaging 7.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals. She even made history with the franchise, as she climbed to third on the WNBA all-time scoring list in her debut with the team.
However, Bonner’s time in Indiana was short, as she was eventually released by the team.
Why Did the Fever Release DeWanna Bonner?
Bonner was one of the Fever’s marquee pickups during the offseason, signing the veteran forward to a one-year deal worth $200,000. She also started the 2025 campaign as a starter for the Fever.
“That’s a whole lot of buckets.”
the squad congratulates DeWanna Bonner on moving into No. 3 on the @WNBA‘s all-time scoring list 🫶 pic.twitter.com/kzoXHsMwvF
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) May 17, 2025
However, she was relegated to a bench role after three games. After playing six contests off the bench, she then missed five straight games, with the team citing personal reasons as the cause of her absence.
The team tried to find a trade for Bonner during her absence but was unsuccessful, leading the team to waive her. According to Annie Costabile of Front Office Sports, sources noted that the “fit” between the Fever and Bonner was off since the beginning.
Overall, Bonner didn’t fit the Fever’s fast-paced style of play, which contributed to her underwhelming performance.
While there have been reports claiming that Bonner was not happy with being benched, she has since denied that narrative.
“That wasn’t ever the issue. That’s never been me,” Bonner said, per ESPN. “I have no problems coming off the bench. I have never been that player. I don’t feel like I have that reputation.”
Bonner’s Stats With Mercury Since Fever Exit
Bonner joined the Mercury after her Fever exit, reuniting with former Connecticut Sun teammate Alyssa Thomas on the team where her career started. The 37-year-old Bonner was drafted fifth overall by Phoenix in 2009.
Ever since rejoining the Mercury, Bonner has played in six games, starting in one. She has put up better numbers compared to her time in Indiana, averaging 11.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists.
With that being said, Fever head coach Stephanie White is actually wary of her in their meeting for the first time since Bonner’s departure.
“I think she fits in perfectly with Phoenix,” White said, according to Chloe Peterson of IndyStar. “Her and AT play so well together, and she does a really good job of adding a different dimension with her ability to be that stretch four… she’s comfortable in that system.
“It’s going to be different to game-plan against her, her and AT both really honestly, after having been on the sideline with them for a couple of years, it’s going to be different to game-plan against her. But I’m glad that she’s happy, and I’m glad that she’s found her spot.”
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
