DeWanna Bonner’s reunion with the Phoenix Mercury is imminent, according to ESPN on Monday, July 7.
The WNBA’s No. 3 all-time leading scorer and six-time All-Star is expected to rejoin the Mercury as an unrestricted free agent. Bonner was waived by the Indiana Fever on June 25.
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Before the Mercury hosted the Dallas Wings on Monday, July 7, Phoenix coach Nate Tibbetts said in his pregame media session, “Who’s that?” and pretended to look perplexed about Bonner when he was asked about the news of her returning to the Valley.
He also declined to comment further about her.
Bonner attended Monday’s game and sat courtside next to Mercury President Vince Kozar.
Bonner, 37, played the first 10 years of her 16-year career in Phoenix. She and Diana Taurasi helped lead the Mercury to titles in 2009 and 2014. She was drafted by Phoenix as the No. 5 overall pick from Auburn in 2009. The sharpshooting 6-foot-4 wing has career averages of 14.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists.
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Bonner’s Phoenix comeback would also mean a reunion with her fiancée and former Connecticut Sun teammate Alyssa Thomas.
The Mercury traded Bonner to Connecticut in February 2020. Bonner and Thomas, now with the Mercury, emerged as one of the league’s top tandems in their five seasons together.
Thomas left Connecticut after playing her entire 11-year career there and joined Phoenix in a four-team trade on Feb. 2. Bonner followed her former coach, Stephanie White, from Connecticut to Indiana and signed a one-year deal for a near-max salary of $200,000 the same day.
This season, Bonner’s produced career lows (7.1 points and 3.8 rebounds) through nine games, averaging 21.3 minutes in three starts. She was away from the Fever (9-9) for five games for personal reasons before being released. The team was unable to land a trade suitor to take on her contract, and she made a statement released by the team to explain her departure.
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“I want to sincerely thank the Indiana Fever for the opportunity to be part of the Fever franchise,” Bonner said. “Despite our shared goals and excitement heading into the season, I felt the fit did not work out and I appreciate the organization’s willingness to grant my request to move on, particularly at this point in my career. I wish the Fever great success as they continue to build around this dynamic group of young players.”
White said about Bonner’s exit, “I haven’t had a lot of conversations with her recently, really focused on the team we have right here and what we need to do to position ourselves to win.”
Bonner addressed rumors that she selfishly quit on Indiana in an Instagram post.
“A quitter!! Nah, never have been that!!” Bonner said. “But when the time comes … Let’s just make sure the apologies are just as loud as the disrespect!”
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The Mercury (12-6) are in second place in the league standings behind the Minnesota Lynx (17-2) and have $88,104 in cap space, per Spotrac. Bonner would be on a prorated veteran minimum, and the Mercury would have to cut a player to make room for her on their 12-person roster. Six players are signed to unprotected contracts, so they can be waived without penalty before July 13.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: DeWanna Bonner expected to return to Phoenix Mercury
