DeWanna Bonner had a lot of options heading into free agency this year. As the fourth-highest all-time leading scorer in the league, Bonner is a defensive force who consistently performs as one of the top athletes in the WNBA. To say she was in demand is an understatement, and several teams courted Bonner in early 2025.
Two of those teams were the Phoenix Mercury and the Minnesota Lynx. It seemed Bonner was a lock for the Mercury for a long time, especially since her fiancée Alyssa Thomas signed with the team on February 2. Joining the Lynx would have also been a logical decision for Bonner since the team very nearly won the championship in 2024.
But Bonner went to the Fever instead, and there's one clear reason why: she's ready to win.
How DeWanna Bonner will help the Fever in 2025
Bonner is coming off two of the best seasons of her career with the Connecticut Sun and Coach Stephanie White. Now that White is also in Indianapolis with the Fever, there's no doubt the duo will continue to work well together.
Bonner brings a lot of WNBA experience to the team. She has played in over 500 games — the third most of all time — and has 15 years of experience in the league. She's competitive in the same way Caitlin Clark is, and will likely be an inspiration to the team's star as she enters her second year. "I couldn’t be more excited to step on the floor with Caitlin," Bonner said during a February press conference announcing her decision to sign with the team. "…I hope that I can give her some knowledge and take her game to a bigger level, so when I retire, she can pass that along to other players."
DeWanna Bonner gives the Fever what they need to win
Bonner also crucially knows what it takes to win a championship, and that kind of knowledge is something the Fever needs in the locker room. It's likely no one is more aware of this than Bonner herself, and she alone is fully aware of her ability to transfer that knowledge to a roster of younger players who are hungry for team success.
She also knows that championships are built one game at a time, and is willing to put in the work to get there. "Of course, on paper a roster can look great," Bonner added. "But it’s going to take what we do in this practice gym, outside this practice gym, how we stay locked in, and steps to keep the main thing, the main thing. It’s a process…We want to be better than we were in May in June and July…This league is tough. Every game is going to be tough."