“She’s loved here by all the fans,” her fiancée, Alyssa Thomas, said after the game, wherein about 10,000 fans welcomed DeWanna Bonner post-Fever exit. “As for us, it’s all about staying the course.” And it all made sense since she’d made a comeback to the family—a cornerstone of their championship past and a symbol of resilience. But while Mercury fans see her as a beacon of hope, Fever fans felt blindsided. What they did next, though, wasn’t received well by Thomas, though not unexpected.

On Wednesday night, Bonner finally made a comeback to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, but this time wearing a Phoenix Mercury jersey. So, you know why Fever fans had marked her arrival on their calendars. When she arrived—having played at Gainbridge just a month earlier this season—Bonner heard the fans, and their feelings, loud and clear.

And the moment she stepped onto the court, boos rained down. They only grew louder when she walked to the free-throw line after drawing a shooting foul. Alyssa Thomas wasn’t having any of it. So she clapped back with trash-talking, and at one point, said, “she [Bonner] came to play for a real team.”

But that wasn’t the end of it. Some fans took it a step further, yelling “quitter” from the stands—a not-so-subtle jab at the veteran’s decision to part ways with the Fever after just nine games.

But yes, it’s totally understandable. For someone who was hailed as a prized offseason signing, Bonner’s sudden exit stung. Especially considering she was brought in for her championship pedigree and veteran leadership, her performance fell short—averaging career-lows of 7.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. Remember when she shared, “I just wanted to be another puzzle piece into what they had,” right after joining Caitlin Clark and company? That sentence was enough to keep Fever fans hopeful.

A two-time champion, the league’s 4th leading scorer– Bonner’s February signing seemed like a guaranteed move to markedly improve the Fever’s season. But as impressive as her résumé sounded, things didn’t pan out the way Indiana had hoped.

Just four months later, Bonner and the Fever officially split, as sources confirmed she wanted to reunite with the Mercury. So eventually, she requested a trade, citing a lack of on-court chemistry, and was waived after the team couldn’t find a suitable trade partner. “We have signed Aari McDonald for the remainder of the season. In a corresponding move, we have waived DeWanna Bonner,” announced the Fever on X.

Well, that was needed at the moment since Bonner was out and the team’s heart, Caitlin Clark, was sidelined due to her left groin injury. And that’s how the player standing in the top three on the W’s all-time scoring list with 7,489 points at the start of this season waived goodbye to the Fever.

“I want to sincerely thank the Indiana Fever for the opportunity to be part of the Fever franchise. Despite our shared goals and excitement heading into the season, I felt the fit did not work out, and I appreciate the organization’s willingness to grant my request to move on, particularly at this point in my career,” Bonner said. “I wish the Fever great success as they continue to build around this dynamic group of young players.”

But while she had kind words for the Fever—a team where her former head coach, who spent two impressive years with her, is currently coaching, Indiana didn’t have much to say in return. But what about her head coach?

After weeks, Stephanie White finally breaks the silence on DeWanna Bonner!

When hours had remained for the Fever vs Mercury clash, Stephanie White was asked about Bonner’s move to her former team. But the head coach kept it simple: “I think she’s fit in perfectly with Phoenix; she does an excellent job,” White said. Commending her ability to adapt to any role on the team, the head coach remarked, “She’s comfortable there; she’s comfortable in that system. I’m glad that she’s happy, and I’m glad she’s found her spot.”

White has been coaching Bonner since 2023. The two made consecutive semifinals runs together both seasons. And that wasn’t it—she also made two All-Star appearances under White’s tutelage. So, you know why White brought Bonner along with her when the Indiana native got an opportunity to coach the Fever again in November 2024. “It’s really incredible, not just her longevity, but her efficiency and how good she’s been her entire career,” the head coach had expressed after the 15-year veteran moved up to No. 3 on the all-time scoring list.

But it seems Bonner always had a plan to commit to the Mercury, as her longtime partner plays there. So, she made a move—being out on personal reasons for a couple of games—until she was waived. And despite her not following White’s plan, the HC seemed happy. All’s well that ends well, right? She’s happy. Thomas is happy. The Fever got a replacement. And both teams are now chasing the championship title.