When DeWanna Bonner checked in around the three‑minute mark of the first quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, she was met with a wall of boos from over 17,000 Indiana fans, some shouting “quitter” as she stepped onto the floor. But despite the crowd’s hostility, Bonner remained composed, saying nothing as she took her place in the rotation, perhaps recognizing the resentment that had built up.

That backlash stemmed from what fans saw as a failed experiment: Bonner had been brought in to shore up the Fever’s defense and mentor young stars like Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston. But by mid‑June, she had lost her starting role to rookie Lexie Hull, appeared in just nine games, and then cited “personal reasons” for stepping away, prompting her release and eventual move to Phoenix, where her fiancée Alyssa Thomas plays. 

On the court that night, Alyssa Thomas attempted to calm the crowd, gesturing for fans to ease up, and even confronted one, saying, “She came to play for a real team.” Phoenix teammate Kahleah Copper later called the boos “distasteful,” criticizing the display as unwarranted and harsh toward Bonner’s effort. While her current teammates focused on calming the crowd or abhorring the reaction later, her former team made it clear they weren’t getting involved. And when asked in the postgame press conference about the reaction Bonner received, Aliyah Boston firmly distanced herself from the incident.

“Honestly? It got nothing to do with me. I think DB returned because we were playing Phoenix, and that happened to be that, and the fans just do what they wanted to do. But for us, it’s about paying attention to what we have to do. Now, it’s coming here and getting a big win, which we were able to do!” And they backed that up on the floor.

The Fever pulled off a statement win against the No. 3 seed Mercury—arguably one of their most complete performances of the season. They overcame a 12-point first-quarter deficit behind a 35-point second frame, shot 51.6% from the field, and knocked down 11 threes. Five players scored in double figures, led by Aari McDonald’s career-high 27 points on 7-of-11 shooting and a perfect 10-of-10 at the line. Aliyah Boston added 22 points and 12 rebounds, including 17 in the fourth quarter alone. The 107 points marked one of the highest-scoring games in franchise history, and they did it all without Caitlin Clark on the floor. Fever head coach Stephanie White was also asked about the crowd’s treatment of Bonner. Her focus, though, was elsewhere.

“I don’t know anything about the reception,” she said postgame. “I don’t hear anything once I’m out on the floor. But, you know, it’s weird seeing her on the other side.” Choosing not to engage with the crowd’s reaction, White is certainly the type who locks in once she’s coaching from the sidelines. But while the coach stayed focused, Bonner couldn’t escape the spotlight or the cold reception despite the outward composure. 

 The former Fever star finished with just four points on 1-of-4 shooting and one rebound in 21 minutes off the bench, as the Mercury fell to Indiana in her return.