Back-to-back late-June clashes between the Indiana Fever and the Phoenix Mercury continue to headline WNBA conversations. Six technical fouls, an ejection, and a closed-fist throat punch that drew a league suspension have many anticipating another feisty encounter this Thursday.
Ahead of the rematch at the Mortgage Matchup Center, one WNBA analyst shed light on Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner’s unceremonious departure from Indiana last season.
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Analyst Reveals Caitlin Clark Factor That Sparked DeWanna Bonner’s Abrupt Fever Exit
The on-court violence started on June 22 in Indianapolis. A second-half tangle between Clark and Bonner sparked an altercation that handed Clark her fifth technical foul of the season.
Chaos quickly ensued as Fever guard Sophie Cunningham and Bonner exchanged words and received double technicals. Indiana’s Myisha Hines-Allen was subsequently ejected from the game after shoving Thomas.
Two nights later, the physicality only ramped up, as Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas caught Clark in the throat with a closed fist during a second-quarter scramble.
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The fallout was ugly: a suspension for Thomas, followed by allegations of online abuse and heated debate over the league’s officiating standards.
However, analyst Trysta Krick highlighted a deeper history behind the mayhem.
During a recent “Yahoo Sports” broadcast, Krick traced the animosity back to Bonner’s abrupt exit from the Fever midway through the 2025 season.
“Remember, DeWanna Bonner played for the Fever and left the team midway through the season, and we never really ever got clarity why. And when I talked to people around the team … it was all about Caitlin,” Krick said.
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“It was about how much of a heliocentric player she is. It was about the vibe around the team. And clearly, Caitlin’s teammates love her. DeWanna Bonner, according to the people that I’ve talked to, really didn’t like playing with her. And so I think that has elevated the temperature.”
Bonner’s tenure in Indiana was pretty brief. She signed with the Fever in February 2025 and appeared on a Sports Illustrated cover alongside Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell in May.
But the honeymoon ended fast. Bonner fell out of the starting lineup in her fourth game, stepped away from the team by mid-June, and formally requested a trade, citing personal reasons.
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“Thomas is in a relationship with Bonner, and they’ve been together for a long time,” Krick noted. “That doesn’t have nothing to do with the temperature that’s raised between these two teams.”
SEE ALSO: Indiana Fever Guard Claps Back at Caitlin Clark Fans, ‘Made Up Narratives’ on Social Media
The on-court production of the two stars involved speaks for itself.
Clark runs Indiana’s offense whenever she’s on the court. Before her back injury flared up in the June 24 contest, she dropped 19 points and 8 assists in just 20 minutes of action.
Meanwhile, Bonner’s numbers in Phoenix reflect a veteran grinding through a bumpy season. She posted a solid 13 points and 8 rebounds in 33 minutes during the 111-109 June 24 win over Indiana.
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However, her production has plummeted in several recent outings. She scored just 7 points against the Fever on June 22 and logged a mere 6 points against the Seattle Storm on July 2.
The Mercury as a whole are struggling to sustain momentum. After their three-game win streak ended against the Chicago Sky on Tuesday, Phoenix enters Thursday’s clash fighting an uphill battle on both ends of the floor.
