DeWanna Bonner Bio
DeWanna Bonner (born August 21, 1987) is an American-Macedonian professional basketball player who currently plays for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). A versatile guard-forward, she has spent more than fifteen years in the league and built a reputation as a reliable scorer and tenacious defender. Bonner has also represented the North Macedonia national team and played for several top club sides across Europe and Asia during the WNBA offseason.
Over her career, she has won two WNBA championships, been selected to six All-Star games, and earned All-WNBA recognition. Her scoring consistency has placed her among the most productive players in WNBA history. Off the court, Bonner is a mother of twin daughters and remains an active figure in women’s basketball.
Early Life and Background
DeWanna Bonner was born on August 21, 1987, in Fairfield, Alabama, to LaShelle Bonner and Greg McCall. She grew up alongside three siblings: a sister named Vin’Centia Dewberry, a brother named Justin McCall, and a sister named Erica McCall, who shares her birthday. The athletic environment of her household helped shape her early interest in competitive sports.
Bonner attended Fairfield High School in Fairfield, Alabama, where she quickly became one of the most decorated players in the state. She was named a McDonald’s All-American and a Women’s Basketball Coaches Association All-American, and she participated in the corresponding All-America games. She also earned USA Today Junior All-America honors and was recognized as the Gatorade Alabama Player of the Year. In 2005, USA Today featured her as one of the top twenty-five recruits in the country.
Path to Basketball
Bonner’s basketball journey continued at Auburn University, where she played from 2005 to 2009 and earned a degree in psychology. As a freshman during the 2005-06 season, she was named to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) All-Freshman Team after leading the Tigers in scoring with 13.5 points per game, the first freshman to do so since 1980-81. She scored in double figures in twenty-two games that year.
By her senior season, Bonner had become one of the most dominant players in Auburn history. In 2009, she was named the SEC Player of the Year and was a finalist for National Player of the Year. She broke Auburn’s career scoring record during the SEC Tournament game against Ole Miss, finishing her college career with 2,162 points, nearly one hundred more than the previous school record. She also set a single-season scoring record with 716 points and led the SEC in scoring, becoming the first Auburn player to earn that distinction.
DeWanna Bonner Career
Early Career (2009-2014)
Bonner was selected fifth overall by the Phoenix Mercury in the 2009 WNBA draft. In her very first regular-season game, she logged twenty-six minutes and scored sixteen points, signaling a smooth transition from college to the pros. That rookie season ended with a WNBA championship, and she was also named the WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year, the first of three consecutive Sixth Woman honors from 2009 through 2011.
She continued to develop her game with the Mercury over the following seasons, contributing as both a starter and a key reserve. On September 12, 2014, Bonner helped Phoenix capture her second WNBA title, posting twelve points, nine rebounds, and three assists in the clinching game. Her scoring, rebounding, and defensive presence made her a centerpiece of the franchise.
Connecticut Sun Era (2020-2024)
On February 11, 2020, Bonner was traded to the Connecticut Sun in exchange for three first-round draft picks. The move gave her a larger offensive role, and she responded by earning All-WNBA Second Team honors in 2020. She became a focal point of the Sun’s attack and was a consistent double-digit scorer throughout her time in Connecticut.
During her Sun tenure, Bonner continued to add All-Star selections, including her 2021 and 2023 appearances. She helped lead Connecticut deep into the playoffs on multiple occasions, reinforcing her status as one of the league’s premier two-way wings. Her veteran leadership became a defining trait of her time in Connecticut.
Indiana Fever Stint (2025)
On February 2, 2025, Bonner signed a one-year contract with the Indiana Fever. In her regular-season debut on May 17, she became the number three all-time leading scorer in WNBA history, surpassing Tina Thompson. She started the first three games before moving to a bench role for the next six contests.
After June 13, Bonner was listed as unavailable due to personal reasons. Reports surfaced on June 24 indicating she had no interest in returning to the Fever, and on June 25 the team waived her. Bonner publicly said the fit did not work out and expressed a preference for playing in Phoenix or Atlanta. The brief Indiana chapter closed without the long-term impact many had hoped for.
Phoenix Mercury Era (2025-Present)
Bonner returned to the Phoenix Mercury on July 8, 2025, where she had begun her career. The Associated Press described her as instrumental in helping Phoenix qualify for the 2025 WNBA Finals. Her experience and scoring punch provided a steadying influence as the Mercury made a deep postseason run.
In April 2026, the Mercury re-signed Bonner, securing her continued presence with the franchise. Her return to the Valley marked a full-circle moment in a career that began with a championship in 2009 and continues to thrive more than fifteen years later.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bonner is known for her smooth shooting stroke, ability to score at all three levels, and physical interior play despite her guard-forward frame. At six feet four, she matches up well against bigger opponents while maintaining the perimeter skills of a wing. Her basketball IQ and mid-range efficiency have made her a reliable late-game option throughout her career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Bonner’s milestone moments include becoming the third all-time leading scorer in WNBA history, winning two championships, and earning three Sixth Woman of the Year awards. Her 2025 return to Phoenix and subsequent run to the WNBA Finals stand out as one of the more dramatic late-career turns in recent league history.
DeWanna Bonner Career Wins
DeWanna Bonner has compiled a deep résumé of team and individual success across the WNBA, European leagues, and international competition. Her two WNBA titles, multiple All-Star nods, and All-WNBA selections reflect sustained excellence at the highest levels of the sport.
WNBA Highlights
Bonner won WNBA championships in 2009 and 2014, both with the Phoenix Mercury. She has been selected to six WNBA All-Star Games in 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, and 2024. She earned All-WNBA First Team honors in 2015 and All-WNBA Second Team recognition in 2020. Her three consecutive WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year awards from 2009 to 2011 remain a notable distinction.
Other Wins and Performances
In international play, Bonner won the FIBA Americas Under-20 Championship in 2006 and the FIBA Under-21 World Championship in 2007 with the United States youth national team. After receiving a Macedonian passport in 2018, she debuted for North Macedonia in 2021 during EuroBasket Women 2023 qualifying, scoring eleven points with nine rebounds in a win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
DeWanna Bonner Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Bonner was raised in Fairfield, Alabama, by her mother, LaShelle Bonner, and her father, Greg McCall. Her siblings include Vin’Centia Dewberry, Justin McCall, and Erica McCall, the last of whom shares her birthday. The close-knit family environment supported her athletic development from an early age.
Personal Life
In November 2014, Bonner married fellow WNBA player and former Mercury teammate Candice Dupree. In April 2017, she announced her pregnancy and sat out the 2017 WNBA season, giving birth to twin daughters in July 2017. Bonner and Dupree later separated. In 2023, she became engaged to former Sun and current Mercury teammate Alyssa Thomas, who proposed during the WNBA All-Star weekend.
2025 Season Performance
Bonner’s 2025 season began with the Indiana Fever, where she signed a one-year contract in February and quickly etched her name into the record books by becoming the third all-time leading scorer in WNBA history during her debut on May 17. Her early contributions offered veteran stability to a young Fever roster, though her role shifted to the bench after the opening stretch of games.
Her time in Indiana ended abruptly in late June when the team waived her following reported disagreements about fit. Less than two weeks later, she rejoined the Phoenix Mercury on July 8, an emotional return to the franchise that drafted her. Her impact was immediate, as she helped Phoenix secure a playoff berth and reach the 2025 WNBA Finals.
Heading into 2026, Bonner re-signed with the Mercury in April, ensuring her continued presence in the WNBA. With a Finals appearance behind her and her place among the league’s all-time greats secured, Bonner remains a central figure for Phoenix and a respected veteran across the league.