Caitlin Clark loses key player on the Fever who could be heading to the Western Conference

The Indiana Fever have been putting together a solid campaign in the WNBA, despite the noticeable absence of their star Caitlin Clark in recent games. In the past few hours, news broke that a key player for the team is reportedly set to join a rival in the Western Conference.

DeWanna Bonner, whose departure from the Fever in the middle of the season was reported in recent hours, is said to have made the decision to join none other than the Phoenix Mercury.

“WNBA veteran guard/forward DeWanna Bonner is expected to sign with the Phoenix Mercury for the remainder of this season,” league sources told ESPN on Monday.

If this intriguing move goes through, Bonner would join the team where her fiancée, Alyssa Thomas, currently plays. Additionally, she won two WNBA titles with Phoenix — the team that originally drafted her back in 2009.

DeWanna Bonner #25 of the Indiana Fever gets hyped during the second half against the Washington Mystics at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 3, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

A brief stay in Indiana

Bonner’s arrival to the Fever, unfortunately, turned out to be disappointing — both for the franchise and for the player herself. During the last offseason, her signing was met with optimism, but she ended up playing only a handful of games. As a result, the team ultimately made the decision to waive her.

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Following the decision that the veteran would no longer be sharing the court with Clark and the rest of the Fever roster, Bonner spoke about her time in Indiana, expressing gratitude for the opportunity — despite the unexpected ending.

“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. I wish the Fever great success as they continue to build around this dynamic group of young players,” she said via ESPN.

Mercury excited about Bonner’s arrival

DeWanna Bonner, after a brief and tumultuous stint with the Indiana Fever, is widely expected to sign with the Phoenix Mercury, marking a reunion with her former team. This move comes after Bonner was waived by the Fever due to a perceived poor fit and personal reasons, despite having signed a near-max contract with Indiana this past offseason.

Her return to Phoenix is anticipated to significantly bolster a Mercury squad that is already performing strongly. Bonner brings a wealth of experience, two WNBA championships from her previous tenure with the Mercury, and the most playoff appearances in WNBA history.

Her veteran presence and versatile scoring ability will undoubtedly provide a valuable boost as Phoenix aims for a deep postseason run, especially given the current injuries to key players like Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper.