DeWanna Bonner Leaving Mercury to Sign With Contender Angers Fans – “Professional Quitter”

DeWanna Bonner joined the Mercury after growing disgruntled with her role in the short stint with the Indiana Fever.

DeWanna Bonner Leaving Mercury to Sign With Contender Angers Fans – “Professional Quitter”

Mercury buy out DeWanna Bonner's contract (Image via WNBA/X)

There was a time when basketball fans were excited to see how DeWanna Bonner would play alongside the likes of Caitlin Clark and the rest of the Indiana Fever. The team was building towards a championship run and hoped to lean into her experience.

That experiment didn’t last long after the mother of two grew unhappy with her diminished role and demanded to be moved. After failing to find a trade partner, the Fever eventually released the forward.

She signed with the Phoenix Mercury after clearing waivers, and many felt that the Auburn alum had not done right by the Fever, leaving them midway to play again alongside fiancée Alyssa Thomas.

Fever fans booed her on her return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, and Thomas and other Mercury teammates had to defend her. One of the arguments Thomas made was that her partner ‘joined the better team.’

Their run to the WNBA Finals last season added weight to that. But this season, their hopes of repeating fell flat. The Mercury have not posted a winning record in any month this year.

Then, after their 89-99 loss to the Atlanta Dream on August 22nd, the team was officially eliminated from playoff contention. Now, as per Mercury and Suns digital writer Shane Young, the organization has agreed to buy out her contract.

That way, DeWanna Bonner is free to join any championship-contending team. It could be a sign that this is her final season in the WNBA. At 39, she is the oldest in the league and is most likely calling it a career.

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Fans tear into DeWanna Bonner for leaving a team again

When this news broke on the internet, fans were baffled to hear that DeWanna Bonner left the Phoenix Mercury to chase a title. After all, she did the same with the Indiana Fever, but the reasons were different.

Fans felt this repeated move cemented her legacy as someone who quits teams just to find a better situation. Most of them were angry Fever faithful, but in general, basketball fans felt that this decision would negatively impact her legacy. Examples of those reactions are listed below.

In DeWanna Bonner’s defense, the 6’4″ star leaving her fiancé and a comfortable situation with the Phoenix Mercury is probably an indication that she is not going to play after this season. After all, the franchise just traded for Kelsey Plum, which should make them contenders next season.

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Mercury head coach explains why they bought out DeWanna Bonner’s contract

The Phoenix Mercury were already at practice when Nate Tibbetts came to grips with this news. When reporters arrived, they asked the head coach what led to their decision to buy out DeWanna Bonner’s contract.

Mercury wanted DeWanna Bonner to do what she wants
Mercury wanted DeWanna Bonner to do what she wants (Image via Patrick Breen/X)

This was done out of respect for DB. This is an opportunity for her to chase a title in possibly her last season. Everything happened on great terms, and she’s always gonna be part of the Mercury organization.

Nate Tibbetts explained

This means that the organization realized that they should just let the 17-year veteran do whatever she wanted, as she was going to hang up her sneakers after this. A classy move on the Mercury’s part, even though some fans did not appreciate it.

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