DeWanna Bonner was one of the Fever’s prized free-agent signings in the offseason. The fit didn’t work out, though, and Bonner left the team after just nine games. Many fans criticized her for quitting on the team, but the move worked out well for both sides. The Fever are still in the semifinals, and Bonner immediately thrived with the Mercury.
Months later, leaving the Fever and returning to the Mercury still holds up as the best move for Bonner, who is headed to the finals after an 86-81 win over the short-handed Minnesota Lynx.
After the game, Bonner expressed her love for the Phoenix Mercury, the organization that drafted her fifth overall in 2009.
“I’m home,” Bonner said. “I’m back to where it all began. The love has been real since I’ve been back here. There’s no greater feeling than putting on that jersey for me.”
DeWanna Bonner was big in the fourth quarter
Bonner was one of four Mercury players to reach double-digit points in Game 4 against the Lynx. She did most of her damage in the fourth quarter, helping the Mercury overcome a 13-point deficit to secure a ticket to the finals.
Bonner only scored two points in the first three quarters. In the fourth, she hit three 3-pointers and made two free throws. She hadn’t scored much in the series before, totalling only eight points over the first three games. Bonner still impacted the game by defending and rebounding, though. Even when she didn’t score much, she grabbed 20 rebounds in the first three games.
Phoenix is a veteran team. Sami Whitcomb and Bonner are the two oldest players left in the playoffs. When the Mercury signed Bonner during the season, they knew that they were getting one of the most experienced players in the league. She showed why that is so valuable in Game 4. Even after not playing great for most of the series, Bonner remained calm and made huge plays in the fourth quarter.
This is Bonner’s third trip to the finals with the Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury have been to the finals four times. They won it all in 2007, 2009, and 2014, and lost to the Chicago Sky in 2021. Bonner was with the Mercury for two of those finals runs. She won a championship with the Mercury in 2009, averaging 8.8 points and 4.3 rebounds off the bench in the playoffs as a rookie. In 2014, Bonner played a much bigger role, starting all eight playoff games and averaging 35.8 minutes per game.
So, this year marks Bonner’s third trip to the finals with the Mercury. It could also end with her third championship with the franchise. After beating the defending champions and the title favorites, the Mercury are firmly established as a legitimate contender. After all, the Lynx only played without Collier in Game 4 and were at almost full strength for the other games—DiJonai Carrington had to miss the playoffs with a foot injury. Nevertheless, the Mercury battled back from a big deficit to force overtime in Game 2 and pulled away late in Game 3.