INDIANAPOLIS — DeWanna Bonner is about as accomplished as any professional women’s basketball player can be.
In her 15-year WNBA career, the 37-year-old is a two-time champion, six-time All-Star, three-time Sixth Woman of the Year and the third-leading scorer in league history.
So, nearing the end of her career, what still drives her to be great?
“I want to win a championship,” Bonner answered. “I want to win another championship… I’m a winner. I’ve always been a winner, and there’s no greater feeling.”
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Now, Bonner is hoping to bring her winning experience to the Fever. She signed with Indiana, the third franchise in her career, on a one-year deal for $200,000, according to Her Hoop Stats.
Bonner spent most of her career in Phoenix, where she was drafted No. 5 out of Auburn in the 2009 draft. She was the Sixth Player of the Year with the Mercury from 2009-11 and won a championship as a rookie. She also won a championship with Phoenix in 2014, becoming a key starter with Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner.
In 2020, Bonner left Phoenix for Connecticut via sign-and-trade. She spent the past five seasons with the Sun (two of them under new Fever coach Stephanie White), and helped lead the Sun to at least the WNBA semifinals each of those five years.
Coming off a 2022 WNBA Finals loss to Las Vegas is something she holds onto. Something she wants to avenge.
“I want to get back to the Finals, first and foremost,” Bonner said. “I got there, and I lost, and it’s such a sucky feeling, and I haven’t forgotten that moment. I want to get back there. I want to win.”
That’s why she’s in Indiana.
Bonner is one of multiple high-profile acquisitions for the Fever this offseason, joining 2019 Defensive Player of the Year Natasha Howard and 3-point sharpshooting wing Sophie Cunningham.
Those players come to build around the young core of Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell, who led the Fever to a 20-20 record and their first playoff berth since 2016 last season. But the Fever front office knew they needed more to compete for a championship.
This offseason, the Fever have focused on bringing in players who not only fit the culture, but have experience winning: Bonner is a two-time champion, Howard is a three-time champion and the Fever also signed Sydney Colson, who won two championships with the Aces in 2022 and ‘23.
Bonner has played in more playoff games than anyone in WNBA history (87). She knows what it takes to win.
“You don’t play this long at this high level in this league without understanding on a daily basis what it takes to be great and what it takes to be successful,” White said. “And so just being around her, our young players can learn about that… She’s a huge piece because of her ability to do what she does on the floor, because of who she is in the locker room and because of the wisdom that she can present to our team on a daily basis.”
On top of that, Bonner won’t have to learn an entirely new system.
Bonner followed White, who the Fever poached from Connecticut, to Indiana this offseason. White also brought along some of her staff, including assistant coach Austin Kelly and player development coach Keith Porter.
In both playing style and culture, it’s a perfect fit.
“She’s been a great friend for me and a mentor for me, and she took my game to a different level,” Bonner said. “Her and AK, the coaching staff at Connecticut, I just feel like I had my best season in Connecticut with him. Of course, it was also like, ‘OK, I don’t have to learn a whole new system 15 years in, that’s kind of crazy.’ … I feel like I’m going to be well taken care of. I trust her, and I trust the vision in this franchise.”
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Why DeWanna Bonner signed with Indiana Fever? ‘I want to win a championship.’
