The Indiana Fever signed two-time WNBA champion and six-time WNBA All-Star DeWanna Bonner to a one-year contract in February, a move that was met with excitement from Fever fans. Bonner, who is currently the fourth-highest all-time scorer in the league and who can easily move into the second spot this season, brings with her a wealth of experience on and off the court that will help every member of the team.
The Fever have been effusive with their praise for Bonner this preseason. Fever COO and General Manger Amber Cox described Bonner as "one of the greatest players in the history of our league," and Coach Stephanie White (who coached Bonner with the Connecticut Sun last season) has made it clear she's happy to be reunited with the 6'4" forward.
Caitlin Clark has also been open with her praise for Bonner, and has made it obvious how much she admires the 16-season vet. "Just the way she talks and she leads, for me as a second-year point guard, I want to win for her. This is the end of her career. She deserves it," Clark told reporters during training camp.
DeWanna Bonner gives the Fever something they've been missing
The Indiana Fever have won the championship only once in franchise history: back in 2012. That Indiana Fever was an entirely different team from the one we see now. This iteration of the Fever is in many ways stronger and faster than ever, but the team has been lacking one thing: a solid core of veteran leadership.
Signing Bonner was like taking a Mario tube for the Fever in terms of experience gained. She is the best defender among the Fever's likely starters and also a player who can easily run both ends of the floor. Her length helps the team and she's quick to move into gaps that others haven't even spotted yet.
Bonner has plenty of practical basketball experience that younger players on the team will eat up, but she also knows how to navigate the increasingly tricky intersection of basketball and social media, where player's lives are dissected in real time, often while they are out on the court playing the game fans presumably want to see them play.
Bonner also isn't the only WNBA champion the team signed. Sydney Colson won championships with the Las Vegas Aces, and like Bonner, she also brings a strong sense of leadership and off the court guidance to the young team.