NEW YORK — DeWanna Bonner is glad to be again dwelling in Phoenix.
The veteran spent the primary 10 years of her profession with the Mercury earlier than leaving for the Connecticut Solar for 5 years, after which a quick stint with the Indiana Fever to start out the 2025 season. When that did not work out, she signed with Phoenix earlier this month.
“I would not do something in a different way. I believe my journey is my journey, and I will settle for that,” Bonner stated. “It carried me to the place I’m now in Phoenix, and it occurred that method for a purpose.”
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The 37-year-old wing was centered on her future with Phoenix greater than dwelling on the previous or what went fallacious in Indiana that ended with the workforce releasing her.
She did discover the narrative that she was disgruntled to return off the bench amusing after beginning the primary few video games for the Fever. Within the opener, she moved into third on the WNBA profession scoring listing.
“That wasn’t ever the difficulty. That is by no means been me,” stated Bonner, who has received the WNBA Sixth Girl of the Yr award thrice. “I’ve no issues coming off the bench. I’ve by no means been that participant. I do not really feel like I’ve that repute.”
Phoenix started a five-game street journey in New York on Friday night time and misplaced 89-76. Bonner had 9 factors.
“DB is a extremely good addition for us. She will play the two, the three and 4 and perhaps even some 5, relying on totally different lineups that, we’ll take a look at beginning right here, transferring ahead,” Phoenix coach Nate Tibbetts stated. “She’s received championships. , her second sport with us, we go on to Golden State, have some accidents and he or she goes for 22 and 11. , we’re not profitable that sport with out her, so she’s been an enormous pickup for us.”
The Mercury will head to Indiana on Wednesday, and Bonner stated she wasn’t positive what the response might be from the followers.
“I am simply going to exit and do my job,” she stated. “They’ve each proper to exit and do what they wish to do. I am simply going to exit and compete with my workforce.”
It wasn’t all unhealthy in Indiana for Bonner, who was solely a four-hour drive from her twin daughters, who flip 8 quickly.
Bonner hopes to carry the Mercury to a different championship. She helped the franchise win two after getting drafted fifth by the workforce in 2009.
“Getting again to Phoenix after so lengthy, the love and the welcome that I had was very a lot wanted and appreciated,” Bonner stated. “Coming again to folks that I do know.”
The most important change she has seen in her time away has been within the constructing that the workforce performs in.
“I stroll into the sector for sport day and I had no thought the place I used to be going, and it was loopy as a result of I used to be there for 10 years daily,” Bonner stated. “Every little thing is totally different, however the followers are nonetheless the identical, a pair folks within the entrance workplace are the identical.”