The way the Phoenix Mercury presented the DeWanna Bonner buyout announcement had a subtly poignant quality. Nick U’Ren, general manager, did not portray it as a salary ploy or a roster decision. He described it as an opportunity for a 17-year veteran to pursue a championship “in what could be her final postseason.” When a front desk employee uses such language, it usually sounds staged. It didn’t this time.
On August 24, Bonner, 39, consented to the contract buyout, ending her second season with the Mercury and putting her on the waiver wire before the 2026 WNBA playoffs. Phoenix finished the season 13-24 and was already out of the running for the postseason. In 37 games, Bonner averaged 10.6 points and 6.1 rebounds. For a player at this point, the numbers are solid and consistent. Not very impressive. However, this season was never really about being spectacular.
The background of the DeWanna Bonner WNBA buyout is what makes it noteworthy. This player joined Diana Taurasi and Tina Charles as the only three in league history to reach 8,000 career points. She has the most regular-season and postseason victories (379 total) of any player in WNBA history and is ranked second all-time in games played. These are not figures for supporting roles. That’s a career built over almost 20 years of reliable, long-lasting, elite basketball.
It’s difficult to ignore the moment’s personal significance as well. In the documentary series “Life in the W,” Bonner candidly discussed her desire to support her fiancée, Alyssa Thomas, in winning a championship while juggling the demands of being a mother to twin daughters and a professional athlete. Therefore, the buyout is more than just a contract move. It’s a choice that reflects the entirety of a life spent both inside and outside of the sport. She seems to know exactly what she’s doing and why.
Where she ends up is now the question. With cap space available and a roster that could use a veteran wing in addition to Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, and Angel Reese, Atlanta looks to be the front-runner. Bonner would simply add length, defense, and the kind of composure that only comes from playing in seventeen seasons of high-pressure situations; he wouldn’t have to shoulder the offensive burden. Another option is Minnesota, but first the Lynx would have to free up cap space. With Satou Sabally sidelined indefinitely, the New York Liberty have also been mentioned as a possibility.
The Las Vegas Aces seem to be out of the running because of roster and cap restrictions, even though they seem like a perfect fit on paper. Given that Bonner signed with Las Vegas in 2023 and didn’t play in the WNBA Finals that year, that is a little ironic. Nevada won’t provide her with the closure she seeks.
The Mercury parted amicably, according to coach Nate Tibbetts, and Bonner’s own statement supported this claim. She stated, “Phoenix will always be a special part of my career,” which sounds sincere rather than forced. In 2009, the Mercury selected her fifth overall out of Auburn. Six All-Star selections, three Sixth Player of the Year honors, and two championships ensued. She was given a career by the organization. She returned it in full.
The playoff picture might change before Bonner signs anywhere, and it’s still unclear if she gets picked up on waivers or clears them as a free agent. However, it seems worthwhile to watch a player of her caliber make such a thoughtful, perceptive move at age 39.
