Brittney Griner’s reaction to DeWanna Bonner breaking Mercury record says it all originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Brittney Griner’s name is all over the Phoenix Mercury record book, but one of her most impressive franchise marks now belongs to DeWanna Bonner. Bonner officially passed Griner to become the Mercury’s all-time leading rebounder during Phoenix’s 72-63 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Sunday. The milestone came with a fitting twist: Griner was inside PHX Arena and watched her former teammate take the record while playing against her.
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There was no resentment from the former Mercury star. Griner shared a lighthearted moment with Bonner after the record fell, laughing with the veteran forward as Phoenix celebrated another piece of franchise history.
For two players whose careers helped define different eras of Mercury basketball, the exchange said everything.
DeWanna Bonner passes Brittney Griner in Mercury history
Bonner entered Sunday within striking distance of Griner’s franchise record of 2,322 rebounds. The 38-year-old collected nine rebounds against Connecticut, moving past Griner and into sole possession of first place on the Mercury’s career list.
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Phoenix recognized the achievement on social media shortly after Bonner secured the record.
“DeWanna Bonner just became the Phoenix Mercury’s all-time leader in rebounds,” the Mercury announced. “Congratulations DB!”
Bonner also delivered one of her best offensive performances of the season, scoring a season-high 21 points to lead the Mercury past the Sun. Her milestone came during a game in which Phoenix was attempting to end a five-game losing streak.
Griner finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds for Connecticut in her return to Phoenix. The two stars were briefly able to acknowledge the moment together, with Griner smiling and laughing with Bonner. It was a fitting response from a player who spent more than a decade helping establish the standard Bonner eventually surpassed.
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Bonner’s return created a path to franchise record
Bonner’s route to the top of the rebounding list was hardly straightforward.
Phoenix selected her with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2009 WNBA Draft. She spent her first 10 seasons with the Mercury, winning championships in 2009 and 2014 while emerging as one of the league’s most versatile forwards.
Bonner left Phoenix for the Connecticut Sun before the 2020 season and remained there through 2024. She then signed with the Indiana Fever ahead of the 2025 campaign, but the partnership lasted only nine games.
After being waived by Indiana, Bonner returned to the Mercury and resumed climbing the franchise leaderboards.
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That reunion eventually gave her enough time to catch Griner.
Bonner is one of the most accomplished players in WNBA history. She is a six-time All-Star, a two-time champion and one of the league’s leading career scorers. Becoming Phoenix’s all-time rebounding leader adds another major accomplishment to a résumé built across nearly two decades.
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Losing the rebounding record does not diminish Griner’s place in Mercury history.
Phoenix selected the 6-foot-9 center with the first overall pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft. She spent 11 seasons with the franchise and helped Bonner, Diana Taurasi and the Mercury win the 2014 championship.
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Griner scored 5,572 points in a Phoenix uniform, second only to Taurasi’s 10,646. She remains the franchise leader in blocked shots with 812 and two-point field goals made with 2,183.
Her 7.4 rebounds per game also remain the best career average in Mercury history. Bonner has averaged approximately six rebounds per game during her Phoenix career but has accumulated more total boards because of her longevity with the franchise.
Griner left Phoenix after the 2024 season and spent one year with the Atlanta Dream before joining Connecticut in 2026.
Sunday gave her another opportunity to return to the city where she became a champion and one of the WNBA’s most recognizable stars. She left without the victory and without her franchise rebounding record, but her reaction made it clear the achievement could not have gone to someone she respected more.
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