DeWanna Bonner is still "expected" to sign with the Phoenix Mercury, ESPN's Michael Voepel, citing sources, tweeted Monday evening. While speaking with reporters ahead of the Mercury's game against the Wings, coach Nate Tibbets only noted he has "no comment" on Voepel's reporting, and requests for comment sent to the Mercury went unanswered.
According to sources, DeWanna Bonner is expected to sign soon with the @PhoenixMercury, the team that drafted her in 2009. She won 2 @WNBA titles with Phoenix. https://t.co/6sNb6o8zga
— Michael Voepel (@MAVoepel) July 7, 2025
Bonner was waived from the Indiana Fever on June 25 after weeks of speculation that she might depart the team. The last game Bonner played for the Fever was on June 10. As fans began to more frequently wonder what exactly was going on behind the scenes, reporters began to ask questions — but nothing came to light until Front Office Sports' Annie Costabile reported Bonner had requested a trade.
Without a firm confirmation from the Mercury, fans are still left speculating about whether or not Bonner will sign with Phoenix for sure — though it's unlikely Voepel or ESPN would have pushed the report without trustworthy confirmation behind the scenes.
The WNBA's cutdown deadline will force a decision soon
All the teams in the league have until July 13 (one day before the official middle of the season) to waive any players on unprotected contracts — a move that could free up cap space for Bonner, who is currently operating as an unrestricted free agent. If the Mercury don't waive another player, it's unlikely the team can bring Bonner on in the first place.
According to Spotrac, the team has $88,104 available, meaning Bonner could opt to play for the 2025 league minimum ($78,831 for players with three or more years of experience) — but in order for that to happen, the Mercury will need to have fewer than 12 players on the roster.
In addition to salary, there's another factor — or another player — involved in the conversation. Despite not having played in the WNBA since 2022, Emma Meesseman is still a heavily pursued athlete across the league, and the Mercury have reportedly been in conversations with the Belgian star for quite some time.
The team is hardly the only one who is pursuing Meesseman, who is fresh off a EuroBasket championship win, but any conversations she's having with the Mercury could in turn delay Bonner's return to the team where she won her first championship. Meesseman has given no official indication that she intends to return to the WNBA in the first place, but she also hasn't denied the possibility is on the table.