Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White has no laborious emotions towards DeWanna Bonner, who will make her return to Indianapolis on Wednesday night time with the Phoenix Mercury only a month after she was waived following a commerce request.
“I feel she’s slot in completely with Phoenix,” White mentioned after follow on Tuesday. “Her and [Alyssa Thomas] play so nicely collectively, and he or she does a extremely good job of including a distinct dimension along with her means to be a stretch 4 to enhance and her and Satou [Sabally] with the ability to play on the ground on the similar time with [Thomas]. She’s comfy there, she’s comfy in that system.
“It is gonna be totally different to recreation plan in opposition to her. Her and AT each, truthfully, after having been on the sideline with them for a pair years,” White continued. “However I am glad that she’s blissful and I am glad that she’s discovered her spot.”
After 5 seasons with the Connecticut Sun, Bonner determined to observe White to the Fever in free company and was the crew’s marquee signing throughout the winter. She moved into third place on the WNBA’s all-time scoring checklist in her first recreation with the Fever, however her tenure was largely downhill from there.
‘I wouldn’t do anything differently’: DeWanna Bonner has no regrets after messy Fever exit, return to Mercury
Carter Bahns
Bonner was benched after simply three video games and averaged 7.1 factors and three.8 rebounds on 34.5% capturing in her 9 appearances with the Fever. In mid-June, Bonner stepped away from the Fever for what the crew known as “private causes.” As her absence stretched to just about two weeks, experiences started to flow into that she had requested a commerce. Finally, the Fever waived Bonner on June 25.
Whereas Bonner confronted criticism over how she dealt with her departure from the Fever, she informed reporters not too long ago that she “would not do something in another way.”
“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 manner for a cause.”
Bonner, now 37 and in her sixteenth season, signed with the Mercury on July 8. She was drafted by the franchise with the No. 5 decide within the 2009 WNBA Draft and spent the primary 10 seasons of her profession in Phoenix. By returning to the Mercury she additionally obtained to reunite along with her fiancée, Thomas, with whom she performed for 5 seasons in Connecticut.
The Fever followers might not be as form as White was when Bonner takes the ground on Wednesday, however she mentioned she’s not apprehensive about their response.
“I am simply going to exit and do my job,” Bonner mentioned. “They’ve each proper to exit and do what they wish to do. I am simply going to exit and compete with my crew.”