The Atlanta Dream is leaving no stone unturned this season as they aim to clinch the WNBA championship. They sent shockwaves ahead of the 2026 season with a blockbuster trade that brought Angel Reese over from the Chicago Sky. And now, with the playoffs set to kick off soon, the Dream have added 39-year-old DeWanna Bonner to their roster.

The Atlanta Dream made an official announcement on Instagram about their recruitment of DeWanna Bonner, with a collage of the two-time WNBA champion and six-time WNBA All-Star. The post welcomed the 2009 first-round pick to the team.

And it looks like the Double-Double Barbie has given the move her approval.

With the announcement now official, Angel Reese liked the post made by her team. But she wasn’t the only one. Chicago Sky guard Skylar Diggins and former basketball player Tamera Young also liked the post.

But why did DeWanna Bonner become available mid-season in the first place? The answer to that question goes back to a season that hasn’t quite gone according to plan for the veteran.

In what could potentially be her final season, Bonner returned to the Phoenix Mercury on a one-year, $500,000 deal, with hopes to make a championship run with the very team that drafted her back in 2009. However, on August 22, the Mercury fell to Atlanta 99-89, which officially eliminated them from playoff contention.

So with Phoenix’s season effectively over, Bonner and the Mercury eventually agreed to a buyout that would give the six-time All-Star one more opportunity to chase a championship. And that opportunity came with the Atlanta Dream.

“Because of the relationship we have with DeWanna, we worked out a buyout agreement that gives her the opportunity to chase a title in what could be her final postseason,” Phoenix GM Nick U’Ren said, per Associated Press.

DeWanna Bonner cleared waivers on August 26 and became an unrestricted free agent, opening the door for Atlanta to bring her in. According to ESPN’s Alexa Philippou, Bonner’s deal with the Dream is at “the prorated max,” which comes out to roughly “$116,000” for the remainder of the season.

For Atlanta, however, this move is about much more than adding another big name to an already talented roster. The Dream are in the middle of a tight playoff race, and with Brionna Jones dealing with a left leg injury, their bench was a concern. So bringing in a player with Bonner’s experience could give them another important piece to work with once the postseason begins.

Through her 37 games with the Mercury this season, Bonner averaged 10.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.2 steals while shooting 39.4% from the field and just 26.2% from three. While these aren’t some of the best numbers we have seen from her, her value to Atlanta goes beyond what she can produce on the stat sheet. A veteran of 17 WNBA seasons, she will bring a wealth of postseason experience to a Dream team that already has Angel Reese, Naz Hillmon and Brionna Jones in its frontcourt.

She also has more than a decade of experience adapting to different roles as a forward and guard, so DeWanna Bonner can give Atlanta another long, physical presence on the floor while allowing the team more flexibility with its rotations.

“At this stage of my career, I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m grateful to the Mercury for giving me the opportunity to play in what could be one of my final postseason opportunities,” Bonner said in a statement. “The fans, this community and the Mercury organization have embraced me throughout my career, and I’ll always be grateful for that.”

The Dream currently stand fourth in the league standings, behind the Minnesota Lynx, the Golden State Valkyries and the Las Vegas Aces. In order to remain in contention for the home court advantage, the Dream will have to maintain their top-four position. And with six regular-season games left, the addition of Bonner greatly boosts those chances.

The Dream have never won a championship. But with DeWanna Bonner potentially making one last postseason push, Atlanta is hoping she can help change that.