After a loss to the Atlanta Dream, the Phoenix Mercury were officially eliminated from the playoffs. That was followed by news that the Mercury and DeWanna Bonner agreed to a contract buyout.
ESPN’s Alexa Philippou reported that Mercury GM Nick U’Ren said, “We worked out a buyout agreement that gives her the opportunity to chase a title in what could be her final postseason.”
Breaking: DeWanna Bonner and the Phoenix Mercury have agreed to a contract buyout, the team announced.
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) August 24, 2026
GM Nick U'Ren: "We worked out a buyout agreement that gives her the opportunity to chase a title in what could be her final postseason."
Bonner is 39 years old and close to retirement. The last time she didn’t play in the postseason was in 2017 when she sat out the season due to pregnancy. With the season winding down, there are a few playoff teams that could benefit from picking up Bonner.
1. Las Vegas Aces
Depth has been an issue for the Aces all season long. They waived Chennedy Carter, Dana Evans has been injured for most of the season, and Jewell Loyd is in the middle of the worst season of her career. On top of that, NaLyssa Smith went down with an injury in the Aces’ last game. Becky Hammon could certainly make good use of a veteran like Bonner in her rotation. It might also be Bonner’s best shot at competing for a title.
2. New York Liberty
Satou Sabally hasn’t played in a game since late June. At this point, it’s difficult to believe that she will return at all this season, and even if she did, she might not be much of a difference-maker after missing so much time. Moreover, New York is definitely not in the position you’d expect from a team that still has the four most important players from its 2024 championship on the roster. Signing Bonner could be a last-ditch effort to improve their chances of pulling off a first-round upset and going on a deeper playoff run.
3. Dallas Wings
The Wings lost Azzi Fudd, who will have to undergo a procedure on her knee, for the rest of the season. Losing their best 3-point shooter and perimeter defender right before the playoffs is anything but ideal. Moreover, Aziaha James has been out with a leg injury. Bonner hasn’t shot the three well this season, knocking down just 26.2% of her attempts, but she still draws attention from defenses and averaged 10.6 points for the Mercury. She could provide some quality minutes at the three and the four, while adding veteran leadership.
4. Atlanta Dream
The Dream have struggled with a lack of depth overall, but especially on the wing. Rhyne Howard averages 34.5 minutes per game, and Allisha Gray plays almost 33 minutes per contest. Adding Bonner would give Karl Smesko more options at the three and four—and most importantly, a proven veteran option. Isobel Borlase has been solid as a backup two or three lately, but might struggle in the playoffs. It’s also uncertain whether Bri Jones will be back soon after missing time with knee issues again.
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