NEW YORK — DeWanna Bonner is completely happy to be again residence 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 short 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 otherwise. I feel my journey is my journey, and I’ll settle for that,” Bonner mentioned. “It carried me to the place I’m now in Phoenix, and it occurred that means for a cause.”
The 37-year-old wing was targeted on her future with Phoenix greater than dwelling on the previous or what went mistaken in Indiana that ended with the crew 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,” mentioned Bonner, who has received the WNBA Sixth Girl of the 12 months award 3 times. “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 status.”
Phoenix started a five-game highway journey in New York on Friday night time and misplaced 89-76. Bonner had 9 factors.
“DB is a very 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, shifting ahead,” Phoenix coach Nate Tibbetts mentioned. “She’s received championships. You understand, her second sport with us, we go on to Golden State, have some accidents and he or she goes for 22 and 11. You understand, 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 mentioned she wasn’t certain what the response shall be from the followers.
“I am simply going to exit and do my job,” she mentioned. “They’ve each proper to exit and do what they need to do. I am simply going to exit and compete with my crew.”
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 crew 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 mentioned. “Coming again to those that I do know.”
The largest change she has seen in her time away has been within the constructing that the crew 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 day by day,” Bonner mentioned. “The whole lot is totally different, however the followers are nonetheless the identical, a pair individuals within the entrance workplace are the identical.”