Just when you thought all was calm between the Indiana Fever and DeWanna Bonner, there came the social media whispers. Fans noticed that DeWanna Bonner had scrubbed her bio of all things Indiana Fever, deleted several team-related posts, and, just to stir the pot further, her picture mysteriously disappeared from the team’s banner wall. Naturally, panic ensued. But again, is there actually bad blood? Because what the Fever HC has been saying suggests otherwise.
DeWanna Bonner’s move from the Connecticut Sun to the Indiana Fever was one of the offseason’s biggest headlines. ESPN’s Rebecca Lobo even called it the move that made Indiana a legit title contender. “It’s just exciting times,” Caitlin Clark had chimed in. But those exciting times didn’t last long. Just four games into the season, Bonner was benched – a not-so-subtle hint that coach Stephanie White may not have seen her as a starter anymore. Out of nine appearances, she’s started only three.
But since June 12, Bonner has been completely missing in action, with “personal reasons” listed as the reason. The Fever, without her leadership and versatility, has dropped their last two, looking noticeably out of sync. And when asked about Bonner’s status, Stephanie White offered a carefully worded update: “Yeah, um, she’s doing well. Yeah. She’s doing well, again, no timeline. I think it’s stay today and for us to make sure we’re continuing to be supportive of DB”. Earlier, she had also said that the team is giving her the time she needs.
So, things are murky at best with conflicting signs pointing in every possible direction. And as expected, the rumor mill is running full-time. Everyone seems to have an opinion, but, of course, without an official update, speculation doesn’t help anyone. Yet again, that didn’t stop WNB analyst Rosalina Lee from sharing her thoughts on what might really be going on behind the scenes. On her YouTube channel, she said, “It’s getting to the point where I think either today or tomorrow, I’m assuming that we’re going to hear something.” Now, neither we at ES nor Rosalina Lee could confirm any of the rumors that have surfaced online regarding her Instagram and team wall. But Lee did try to speculate on the reason.
She continued, saying, “It could be a medical thing. It could be that she’s considering retirement. It could be because she’s seeing that she really can’t keep up with the pacing that the Indiana Fever want to play. She does have kids—there could be a reason that she feels that maybe the pressure of the team is creating issues. I mean, honestly, it could be such a number of reasons, and I think that this is why the Indiana Fever do need to come out and be a little more transparent about it.”
May 17, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever forward DeWanna Bonner (25) celebrates becoming the 3rd most leading points scorer in the WNBA in the second half against the Chicago Sky at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/USATSI_26209783.jpg https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/USATSI_26209783.jpg
As respectful as Lee was about the entire situation, you can’t help but wonder – could retirement really be what Bonner is considering? Well, it isn’t entirely shocking! In an interview with Romper last year, Bonner made it quite clear that she would like to spend more time with her children. “Of course, the ball is gonna stop bouncing one day. You want to make your money when you can, but at the same time I’m looking at them [her twins] and I’m just like, there’s no way that I can go thousands of miles away.”
But it’s still hard to believe that the time has come. After recently becoming the league’s 3rd all-time leading scorer, it’s clear that Bonner still has plenty in the tank to offer. If recent games against the Valkyries and the Aces have shown anything, it’s that Caitlin Clark will need more scorers around her. Who better than Bonner? And not to forget that she had just two reasons to join the Fever, turning down offers from almost-champions Lynx. As she said, “I want to win another championship,” and because Indiana is closer to her kids than any other city. So, things should work out, right? Why would she want to retire at this moment?
So, it might be a totally different issue altogether. Bonner could be going through a personal matter we know nothing about! And truthfully, it’s not our place to speculate. But if retirement really is on the table, as Lee suggested, then she would walk away as one of the most decorated players in WNBA history.
This leaves the Fever front office to think about who they could bring in to replace Bonner, should she actually step away from the game. With Damiris Dantas set to miss time from June 26 to July 8 for the FIBA AmeriCup, the Fever could be down to just nine players if Bonner doesn’t return. That leaves Indiana in a dire spot.
Potential DeWanna Bonner replacements
Now, first things first. The Fever currently can’t sign anyone on a hardship deal since they still have 11 healthy players on the roster. But with Damiris Dantas set to leave for national team duties, that situation could shift – provided DeWanna Bonner doesn’t return.
Now, the Fever might look for a frontcourt player instead of a guard. However, if they make Brianna Turner step up in Bonner’s place and trust rookie Makayla Timpson, then there is one obvious name that comes to mind: Aari McDonald. She was impressive during her short stint with the Fever while Caitlin Clark was out with her quad injury. In just three games, McDonald averaged 11 points and 3 assists.
Coach White praised Aari for her performances with the Fever, saying,” She has been the ultimate pro. She came in ready to go, she had watched such a large amount of film just in her flight in here that you could tell already, her high IQ. She’s a dog, and we’re gonna miss her certainly. What she brought to the table for us, and being able to come in at the point guard position, and just really impact us right away, was huge.”
The praise does suggest that she could be the one to come back. Another player who could come in would be Bree Hall. One of the best perimeter defenders in college over the past year, Hall was drafted by the Fever but was let go due to roster restrictions. She’s currently suiting up for the Valkyries, but with EuroBasket wrapping up soon, she could find herself without a team. And if the timing lines up, a reunion with the Fever might be on the cards.
What’s next for DeWanna Bonner? That remains to be seen. Fans everywhere are hoping she’s able to overcome whatever she’s dealing with and return to the court in a Fever jersey. Will she make a comeback? We’ll just have to wait and see. But what do you think? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
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