Indianapolis – Dewanna Bonner is about as accomplished as any professional basketball player.
In his 15th birthday Wgb Career, the 37-year-old is a double champion, six times All-Star, three times sixth of the year and the third scorer in the history of the League.
So, approaching the end of her career, what still pushes her to be great?
“I want to win a championship,” replied Bonne. “I want to win another championship … I am a winner. I have always been a winner and there is no greater feeling. “”
No bad blood. Dewanna Bonner is looking forward to teaming up with Caitlin Clark despite the playoffs.
Caitlin Clark on fever additions: “I will push us all to improve.
Now Bonner hopes to bring his winning experience to Fever. She signed with Indiana, the third franchise in her career, on a one -year contract for $ 200,000, according to His hoop statistics.
Bonner spent most of her career in Phoenix, where she was drafted n ° 5 of Auburn during the 2009 draft. She was the sixth player of the year with the Mercury from 2009 to 11 and won a Championship as a recruit. She also won a championship with Phoenix in 2014, becoming a key starter with Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner.
In 2020, Bonner left Phoenix for Connecticut via sign and trade. She has spent the last five seasons with the sun (two of them under a new Fever Coach Stephanie White), and helped lead the sun at least to the semi-finals of the WNBA each of these five years.
Getting out of a defeat in the WNBA final in 2022 against Las Vegas is something it holds. Something she wants to avenge.
“I want to come back to the final, above all,” said Bonner. “I arrived there, and I lost, and it’s such a zero feeling, and I have not forgotten this moment. I want to come back to it. I want to win.
This is why she is in Indiana.
Bonner is one of the multiple large -scale acquisitions for fever this offseason, joining the defensive player of 2019 Natasha Howard and 3-point shooting wing Sophie Cunningham.
These players come to build around the young core of Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell, who led a fever to a record of 20-20 and their first place in the playoffs since 2016 last season. But the front office of fever knew they needed more to compete for a championship.
This off -season, fever has focused on the introduction of players who not only correspond to culture, but who have experience: Bonner is a double champion, Howard is a triple champion and fever also signed Sydney Colsonwhich won two championships with the AS in 2022 and ’23.
Bonner played in more qualifying matches than anyone in the history of WNBA (87). She knows what it takes to win.
“You are not playing so long at this high level of this league without understanding daily what it takes to be great and what it takes to succeed,” said White. “And therefore being just around her, our young players can learn about this … It is a huge play because of her ability to do what she does on the ground, because of whom she is in changing rooms and because of the wisdom it can present to our team on a daily basis. »»
In addition to that, Bonner will not have to learn an entirely new system.
Bonner followed white, Which fever has poached Connecticutat Indiana this offseason. White also brought part of his staff, including the deputy coach Austin Kelly and players’ development coach Keith Porter.
In style of play and culture, it is a perfect fit.
“She was a great friend for me and a mentor for me, and she took my game to a different level,” said Bonner. “She and Ak, the Connecticut coaches staff, I just feel like I had my best season in Connecticut with him. Of course, it was also: “OK, I don’t have to learn a brand new 15 -year system, it’s a bit crazy.” … I feel like I was well taken care of. I trust him and trust vision in this franchise. »»
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Why Dewanna Bonner signed with Indiana Fever? “I want to win a championship.
