How Mercury’s Bonner rediscovered her love for basketball through family

Bonner, a 16-year veteran in the league, signed with the Mercury last month after being waived from the Fever a few weeks prior. Now with her new team, the two-time WNBA Champion spoke on how hard it was to come back to playing.

“Emotions are kind of high. Honestly, it’s just been a journey to get back to just being happy playing basketball again,” she said, according to the team’s post-game notes. “The joy, trying to find that for a minute, basketball was kind off the radar for me a little bit.”

Through talks with teammate Merucry Alyssa Thomas, Bonner expressed how she didn’t know if she loved basketball anymore. However, coming back to Phoenix has reignited that passion.

“I feel like it was a game that I needed to remind me I love this,” Bonner said, after her performance against the Fever. “I love being here, I love Phoenix, I love playing basketball. I can’t wait to do it again.”

Bonner scored 23 points and had seven rebounds in the win.

When asked about what helped her change her mind, Bonner said having time to herself and being around her children motivated her to continue.

“They kind of remind you that life is short,” said Bonner, according to the Mercury’s post-game recording. “They have no idea what’s going on behind the scenes, so it just made it fun.”

Bonner also credited the fans, feeling the same love she felt when she first came to Phoenix.

“Being here, even if [Thomas] wasn’t here, I was here for 10 years,” the Mercury guard said. “The fans are still the same, the love is still the same… the energy is still the same.”

Bonner found renewed joy in the game she once questioned, reminding herself about why she fell in love with basketball in the first place.