WNBA legend DeWanna Bonner lasted just nine games as a teammate of Sophie Cunningham with the Indiana Fever. She did not even say goodbye.
The 37-year-old left the team without so much as a text or a note.
For her new WNBA teammates to then be surprised when she got booed upon return to Indianapolis is hilarious. This league is so soft.
DeWanna Bonner forced her way out.
It was a little bit of a surprise when Bonner signed with the Indiana Fever during the offseason. However, the decision made sense because of Caitlin Clark and head coach Stephanie White.
Who wouldn’t want to pursue a WNBA championship alongside the reigning Rookie of the Year?
As it would turn out, Bonner does not. She took a sudden leave of absence after nine games and left only cryptic context clues behind. The Fever removed her from the roster not long thereafter.
Indiana fans did not appreciate her behavior but Bonner rejected the idea that she quit on Indiana and called for the apologies to be just as loud as the disrespect. “IN DUE TIME,” she said.
Bonner became a free agent as soon as she cleared waivers and chose to sign with the Phoenix Mercury. Not only is it her former team, it allowed her to play alongside her fiancée for what is likely the final year (or two) of her well-decorated career.
Indiana Fever fans booed her return.
DeWanna Bonner made her return to Indianapolis with the Mercury last week. Fever fans booed.
DeWanna Bonner checks in, is immediately boo’d by Fever fans. Was part of Indiana for just nine games.
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) July 30, 2025
Her partner, Alyssa Thomas, gestures to fans to keep bringing it. pic.twitter.com/8SNDftPTij
Kahleah Copper, Bonner’s teammate, slammed the opposing fanbase for its behavior.
Here's a full clip on what Kahleah Copper had to say about DeWanna Bonner's return to Indianapolis tonight and how the fans treated her #WNBA https://t.co/Nbj13qPWLk pic.twitter.com/crYW2CGez5
— Aya Abdeen (@ayabdeen) July 31, 2025
The Studbudz had no issue with the boos.
“If you left Minnesota tomorrow, they would boo the s— out of you,” Natisha Hideman said to Courtney Williams.
“Booing is a sign of respect,” Williams responded. “That’s like Kyrie [Irving] every time he goes back to Boston; it comes with the sport.”
No big deal, right? I certainly don’t see a problem with it. Nor does Sophie Cunningham.
They never even got a goodbye!
Not only did DeWanna Bonner bring the boos upon herself with how she handled her ungraceful departure from the Indiana Fever, she at no point addressed the fanbase. They didn’t even get a “thanks for memories.” Nothing.
As it would turn out, that is also true for the players. Cunningham revealed on the Show Me Something podcast that Bonner didn’t even text the group chat to say goodbye!
There is no outstanding beef between Sophie Cunningham and DeWanna Bonner. They’re cool.
That doesn’t mean the former didn’t expect the latter to get booed. The latter should’ve seen it coming.
Bonner forced her way out of Indiana without an explanation. No text, no call, no goodbye— to anybody. WNBA players like Copper really need to get it together because this kind of thing is pretty standard. Fans are going to boo a player who they think did them dirty…