7-7. That’s the Indiana Fever’s current win streak. And while the offseason’s barely begun, the franchise just made a seismic move. Without warning, the Fever waived two-time WNBA champion DeWanna Bonner and signed guard Aari McDonald for the rest of the season. The announcement blindsided everyone. No heads-up, no press release, no front office explanation. Just gone. And while the Fever stayed silent, Bonner sure didn’t.

A few hours ago, DeWanna Bonner broke her silence with a sharp, cryptic Instagram post. She wrote, “A QUITTER!! Nah never been that!! But when the time comes…“Let’s just make sure the apologies, are just as loud as the disrespect!! “ IN DUE TIME .. DB 👑”  Now, what exactly does that mean? We’re not here to play judge, but the timing spoke volumes.

Bonner’s words, dripping with frustration, seemed to call out the Fever for how they handled her exit. The crown emoji and “IN DUE TIME” hinted she’s not done proving herself, leaving fans buzzing about what went wrong in Indiana.

And like clockwork, not long after Bonner’s post started making the rounds, the Fever’s front office finally addressed the situation.

Amber Cox, the COO and GM of the Indiana Fever, tried to steady the storm. She said, “I mean obviously, DeWanna’s a hall of famer, future hall of famer. One of the best that’s ever played our game. We were really excited when she decided to come here in the off-season. And you know, as we got into the season, she just expressed that she didn’t feel like… We talked through that, we had conversations, obviously, we made some adjustments to line up some of the things we were doing. And we just couldn’t get it to a place where, you know, it felt, it felt good for her…”

A diplomatic explanation, sure. But the strain between those lines was impossible to ignore. And truth is, this tension didn’t just pop up overnight. Bonner had been away from the Fever since the second week of June, with the team chalking it up to “personal reasons.” As recently as last Saturday, head coach Stephanie White told reporters Bonner was “doing well.” White added that Bonner was considered “day-to-day” and insisted the Fever were fully supportive during her time away. It all sounded clean on paper, but in hindsight, the signs were there.

Ahead of the Fever’s win over Seattle on Tuesday, Stephanie White’s tone took a noticeable turn. “I haven’t had a lot of conversations with her recently,” White admitted. “Really been focused on the team we have right here and what we need to do to position ourselves to win.” She added. And just like that, the narrative shifted. Maybe White was genuinely locked in on her current roster; maybe she didn’t have time for Bonner. But honestly, those semantics don’t matter now. The writing’s on the wall is that the Fever and Bonner have officially parted ways for good.

The Fever’s move to cut Bonner and bring in Aari McDonald signals a clear pivot toward a younger, faster roster built around Caitlin Clark’s playmaking. It’s a risky bet for a team with championship dreams, especially when you let go of a veteran who’s still got plenty left in the tank.

Looking back at DeWanna Bonner’s history with the Indiana Fever

On February 5, 2025, the Fever signed DeWanna Bonner as a free agent, banking on her to boost Indiana alongside Caitlin Clark. Bonner was coming off a strong 2024 campaign, averaging 15.0 points while shooting 41.5 percent from the floor. She added 6.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals a night, proving she still had gas in the tank. Last season, she etched her name deeper into league history, joining Tamika Catchings as just the second player to tally 7,000+ points, 3,000+ rebounds, and 1,000+ assists. By every measure, Indiana’s front office had landed a future Hall of Famer.

At the time, Amber Cox didn’t hold back her excitement. She said, “DeWanna is one of the greatest players in the history of our league…She is an incredible teammate and leader, and we are so excited to welcome her to the Fever.” And it wasn’t a one-way celebration. Bonner showed her excitement about this move too. As she said, “I’m extremely thankful to be joining an organization that’s on the rise and committed to growing the sport of women’s basketball. I’m looking forward to coming in, sharing my leadership and knowledge, and doing my part to help get this team get back to its championship pedigree,”

But as it often goes in this league, things didn’t turn out the way anyone imagined. Bonner started just three games for the Fever before getting bumped to a reserve role. In nine total appearances, she averaged a modest 7.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists, far from the impact Indiana banked on.

Her final outing came on June 10 against the Atlanta Dream, where she finished with just 5 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists. The hard truth? The faith Indiana placed in Bonner, she couldn’t deliver on it. Now, Bonner’s a free agent again, and the WNBA is watching closely. A player with her resume—two championships, six All-Star nods—doesn’t stay on the market long. Teams like the Connecticut Sun, where she shined for over a decade, or contenders like the Las Vegas Aces might see her as the missing piece for a playoff run. Wherever she lands, her cryptic post makes one thing clear: she’s ready to show the league what she’s still got. And now, this six-time WNBA All-Star is officially hunting for a new home.