DeWanna Bonner update leaves Caitlin Clark, Fever without valuable veteran leader

If the Indiana Fever are going to live up to expectations this season, they'll likely do so without one of their biggest 2025 free-agent acquisitions.

On Tuesday, Front Office Sports' Annie Costabile reported that veteran forward DeWanna Bonner "has no interest in returning to play for the Fever" and has named the Atlanta Dream and Phoenix Mercury as her preferred trade destinations.

After a rough first three games in the starting lineup, Bonner was moved to the second unit by Fever head coach Stephanie White, who coached the six-time All-Star from 2023-24 with the Connecticut Sun.

The three-time Sixth Woman of the Year (2009-11) posted better numbers coming off the bench, but for a player who signed expecting to be a starter, the demotion appears to have made the relationship unsalvageable.

Bonner last played on June 10 and has missed Indiana's past four games.

The dissolution is significant for the Fever (6-7), who were a trendy preseason pick to win the WNBA championship.

Bonner, a two-time WNBA champion, gave Indiana valuable postseason experience it could have used in a potential playoff run. Instead, second-year phenom Caitlin Clark and third-year pro Aliyah Boston, two of the league's best young players, will have to navigate the playoff field without Bonner's veteran guidance.

"She is an incredible teammate and leader," Fever general manager Amber Cox said when the team announced Bonner's signing in February 2025.

"I'm looking forward to coming in, sharing my leadership and knowledge, and doing my part to help get this team back to its championship pedigree," Bonner said.

Now, less than a half-year later, the Fever's young stars must figure things out by themselves.