Jeff Metcalfe
By Jeff Metcalfe
If the new-era Phoenix Mercury were one piece short of genuine WNBA title contention, they might have filled that hole with a throwback to their glory years.
In signing forward DeWanna Bonner on Tuesday, the Mercury are bringing back a central piece of their 2009 and 2014 championship teams. She played the first 10 of her 15 WNBA seasons in Phoenix before a 2020 sign-and-trade to the Connecticut Sun.
Now at 37, after a brief nine games with Indiana, Bonner is back in Phoenix, reuniting with her former Sun teammate and fiancé Alyssa Thomas to help in driving the Mercury to their first title since 2014 and fourth overall.
Houston, Minnesota and Seattle are tied for most WNBA titles with four each, a perch the Mercury can join with one more crown.
“Just be me, I don’t have to do anything extra,” Bonner said following her first practice after signing for a reported $63,721, per Her Hoops Stats. “I was a little worried because they’re on a team that has great chemistry already so that kind of went into my decision-making process. But they reassured me they wanted and needed me here, and I’m going to do what I normally do that has got me these 15 years.”
The Mercury go into a Wednesday home matinee against WNBA-leading Minnesota (17-2) with the league’s second-best record (13-6). They are currently without starters Satou Sabally (ankle) and Kahleah Copper (hamstring) and backup guard Lexi Held (pneumothorax) so the 6-4 Bonner is an immediate boost whether she starts or comes off the bench.
Longer term, the WNBA third leading all-time scorer provides another 3-point shooting option around Thomas, who leads the league in assists.
“She is a true winner, leader and one of the most talented and versatile players in our game,” Mercury general manager Nick U’Ren said. “Her high basketball IQ, shooting range, athleticism and ability to play and defend multiple positions is going to be a great addition to what we are building here in Phoenix.”
Bonner immediately becomes the most tenured Mercury player since Copper and Natasha Mack are in their second seasons in Phoenix and nine others are in their first. She was part of a Mercury big three with Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner from 2013-16 and 2018-19 after being WNBA Sixth Player of the Year from 2009-11. She became a full-time starter in 2012 and sat out 2017 on maternity leave.
“Watching last night was definitely different from when I was here six years ago,” Bonner said of the Mercury’s 102-72 win over Dallas. “The fans were still the exact same. They still knew me by name, they embraced me and loved on me a little bit.
“I texted Vince, thank you for this. It’s where I needed to be at this time in my career and I’m excited to be here. As far as the team and what we can do, just trying to get everybody on the court at one time will be interesting. When that happens, I’m excited to see what we can do too.”
She referred to Vince Kozar, Mercury President and friend to Bonner.
The Mercury waived forward Murjanatu Musa to open a roster spot for Bonner while retaining guard Kiana Williams, who had 17 points and four assists in 21 minutes Monday to secure her berth.
“I’m just grateful for the opportunity,” Williams said. “Whether I play two minutes or 22 minutes, I’m going to give it my all. Whatever the coach asks me to do, make sure I execute it to a T. He said if you’re open, knock it down so that’s what I did.
“DB (Bonner) is a vet. Even in our practice today, she was telling me different stuff in the offense to look for.”
Bonner’s credentials include six WNBA All-Star appearances and All-WNBA honors in 2015 and 2020. She is third in all-time free throws and ninth in rebounds and 3-pointers in addition to trailing only Taurasi (10,646 points) and Tina Charles (7,961) in scoring with 7,546.
With Connecticut, Bonner and Thomas played in the 2022 WNBA Finals and reached five consecutive semifinals. Their basketball and personal relationship figure to speed up Bonner’s adaptation with a new team with more than half of the regular season still to play.
“I’m very happy,” to be back with Thomas, Bonner said. “But it’s a job and we come in as teammates and tending to business. We want to win first and foremost and do it in the most professional way. That’s what we’ve been doing and what we’ll continue to do and live our life like normal people.”
