DeWanna Bonner solidifies Indiana Fever as WNBA championship contenders

A rotation headlined by Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard, Aliyah Boston, and Lexie Hull propels the Fever into title contention.

DeWanna Bonner is heading to Indiana, per ESPN’s Alexa Phillippou. The six-time All-Star, who most recently played for the Connecticut Sun, agreed to a one-year deal with the Fever on Sunday. And, as such, the Fever are officially in the mix for a WNBA title.

Bonner, who averaged 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists on the Sun last season, was widely expected to sign elsewhere after the organization saw last season’s core all head elsewhere. Many assumed Bonner would follow her fiancee, WNBA All-Star Alyssa Thomas, to the Phoenix Mercury, where she ended up via a sign-and-trade earlier this week. Instead, she joins forces with her former Sun head coach Stephanie White, who also made the switch from Connecticut to Indiana this offseason.

Bonner thrived in White’s offense — having two of the best seasons of her career at ages 36 and 37. She was also one of the primary defenders White leveraged to slow down Caitlin Clark during the playoffs. Now, the two guards — one aged 23, and the other, 37 — will share the sidelines.

The Bonner signing punctuates a wildly successful offseason for the Indiana Fever

Last year, the Fever went 20-20 and was swept by Bonner’s Sun in the first round of the playoffs. Despite the early postseason exit, Indiana’s season was a resounding success — rookie star Caitlin Clark exceeded all expectations, Kelsy Mitchell had the best season of her career, and the Fever made the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

The future has only looked gotten since the WNBA season concluded. The Fever’s first big move was to hire Stephanie White to lead the franchise, one of the highest-sought after coaches on the market who still had a year left in her contract with the Connecticut Sun. They also announced they’d be building a brand-new, state-of-the-art practice facility for Fever players.

And, they’ve resoundingly nailed the WNBA free agency so far — re-signing Kelsey Mitchell off the best season of her career, adding forward Natasha Howard, trading for Sophie Cunningham, and now, adding Bonner. Mitchell was a key priority of the front office, and bringing her back on a supermax contract was the first domino to fall this week. Howard, who last played for the Dallas Wings, serves as a rim-runner, strong defender, and veteran forward with championship experience. She’ll return to the organization where she began her career in 2014.

Cunningham excelled as a perimeter shooter during her tenure in Phoenix — one in which she was in the running for Sixth Player of the Year for much of the season.

And, Bonner ties it all together. On the Fever, she will have a smaller offensive role than the one she had in Connecticut, which will almost certainly help improve her efficiency. And, she’s a versatile defender and a self-creator who can also ease the load Clark and Mitchell have to carry. Bonner has two championships under her belt — both won with the Mercury — and at 6’4, she’s often a mismatch for opposing guards.

The Fever will go as far as Caitlin Clark takes them. Clark was named to the First Team All-WNBA in her rookie season, after averaging 19.2 points and a league-best 8.4 assists. She’s only set to make another leap next season. But now, Clark has the supporting cast she needs to take Indiana all the way — the best players from last year’s roster, a veteran guard who is a gifted offensive player in Bonner, a rim-running forward who’s been there before in Howard, and 3&D guards in Lexie Hull and Sophie Cunningham.

They’re right in the mix for a WNBA championship, sooner than anyone could have expected.