Once upon a time – with emphasis on once – Alyssa Thomas fouled out of a WNBA game.
Twelve days later, during the 2015 season, DeWanna Bonner fouled out.
The fairy tale part is that neither have fouled out of a WNBA regular season game before or since. That’s one apiece in a combined 917 games through Friday, 547 of those for Bonner, who is third in WNBA career games played.
While this won’t be the go-to statistic when Bonner and Thomas become women’s basketball Hall of Famers, it speaks volumes about their ability to navigate the vagaries of officiating and be available for critical late-game minutes.
Bonner is 38 with a birthday coming up in August. Thomas turned 34 in April.
They are in their second year as Phoenix Mercury teammates after five years together with the Connecticut Sun. Bonner previously played for the Mercury from 2009, her first WNBA season, through 2019. Thomas played for the Sun from 2014, after a draft-day trade with New York, through 2014.
Thomas was only in her second pro season out of Maryland but already a starter when she fouled out on June 7, 2015. She had more fouls (six) than points (five) while playing 15:54 at Atlanta. The Sun still won 75-70.
On June 19, Thomas was in Phoenix with the Sun for a double-overtime win when Bonner fouled out for the first time in her then seventh WNBA season. Bonner more than did her part that day with 21 points and nine rebounds in 44 minutes of a 90-78 defeat.
Thomas had 15 points/nine rebounds for the winning Sun, led overall by Kelsey Bone with 27 points and 14 boards.
Maybe it was something about 2015, but the only other fouls disqualification for either player was Bonner that year in the Western Conference Finals. She played 34 minutes with 13 points in a 72-71 series-ending loss to Minnesota on Sept. 27.
The Mercury were without Diana Taurasi in 2015 as she opted to sit out that WNBA season and play only for her Russian team.
In a combined 156 playoff games, 6-4 Bonner and 6-2 Thomas, who are a couple off the court, have that single foul-out blemish. And three total – regular season and playoffs – in a combined 30 seasons including 2026.
VIDEO – Mercury star Diana Taurasi sad to be retiring but well-positioned for second half of her life
Mercury, sans Copper, delivers on offseason talk that should give fans hope for 2025 season
Mercury Minute with DeWanna Bonner: Reigniting love for game, on-court chemistry, champion’s mindset
