Jul 19, 2024; Phoenix, Ariz., United States; Sheryl Swoopes hosts a WBNA All-Star brunch in honor of her former teammate, Nikki McCray Penson, at Thea in Phoenix on July 19, 2024 Diannie Chavez/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

Sheryl Swoopes Surmises Why DeWanna Bonner Decided to Leave Indiana Fever

Originally posted on Women's Fastbreak on SI
By Grant Young | Last updated Jul 7, 2025 7:44 PM ET

The women's basketball community is still curious about which team veteran wing DeWanna Bonner will end up with after she was released by the Indiana Fever last month. The Fever's decision to release her stemmed from her requesting a trade from the franchise because she wasn't feeling like the fit was right for her, after signing with the team in free agency this past offseason.

WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes spoke about this whole situation during a July 2 episode of the Levels to This podcast alongside Terrika Foster-Brasby.

"I think DeWanna Bonner came to the conclusion of 'This is just not the right fit for me' when her role changed. Because DeWanna was very open about it, right? It was one of those things where, 'You promised me X. And when I got here, you gave me Y and Z.' And that's not what I signed up for," Swoopes said.

DeWanna Bonner’s recent Instagram post. pic.twitter.com/dLYTt920OU
— Khristina Williams (@Khristina) June 26, 2025

"When you're a player, especially a player of [Bonner's] caliber... and I saw a lot of disrespect online when she announced 'I'm out', basically. DeWanna Bonner is Her. She has the accolades to prove it... so let's not get carried away with the disrespect. And it's hard to go to a player of her caliber, and say... 'Oh by the way, you're gonna come off the bench now,'" Swoopes added.

"At the end of the day, the decision she made is the decision that she feels is best for her. And all I can do is clap for her and say, 'Listen: Do what's best for you, do what's best for your kids, do what's best for your family'... I'm not mad at her. I hate the look of it."

The bottom line is that Bonner is no longer with the Fever and will likely be joining a new WNBA team relatively soon.

This article first appeared on Women's Fastbreak on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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