DeWanna Bonner Bio
DeWanna Bonner (born August 21, 1987) is an American-Macedonian professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). A versatile forward with scoring range and rebounding strength, she has built a reputation as one of the league’s most reliable two-way players over more than a decade of competition.
Bonner played college basketball for Auburn University, where she became the program’s all-time leading scorer. After a successful career at Auburn, she was drafted by the Mercury with the fifth overall pick of the 2009 WNBA draft, and was traded to the Sun in 2020. A two-time WNBA champion and six-time All-Star, she has also competed professionally in Europe and Asia during the WNBA offseason.
Early Life and Background
DeWanna Bonner was born on August 21, 1987 in Fairfield, Alabama, to LaShelle Bonner and Greg McCall. She has three siblings: sister Vin’Centia Dewberry, brother Justin McCall, and sister Erica McCall, with whom she shares a birthday. Growing up in Fairfield, Bonner found her love for basketball at a young age and quickly stood out for her height, athleticism, and competitive edge.
Bonner attended high school at Fairfield High School in Fairfield, Alabama, where she became one of the most decorated recruits in the country. She was named a McDonald’s All-American and a WBCA All-American and participated in their All-America games. She earned USA Today Junior All-America honors, was named the Gatorade Alabama Player of the Year, and was featured in USA Today in 2005 as one of the nationwide Top 25 recruits.
Path to Basketball
Bonner committed to Auburn University, where she earned a degree in psychology while developing into one of the most complete players in the Southeastern Conference. She was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team in her first season and led the Tigers with a 13.5 points per game average, becoming the first Auburn freshman to lead the team in scoring since 1980–81. She scored in double figures in 22 games during the 2005–06 season.
By her senior year, Bonner had become the face of Auburn basketball. In 2009, she was named SEC Player of the Year and a National Player of the Year finalist, and she broke the Auburn career scoring record during the Ole Miss game at the SEC Tournament. She finished her career with 2,162 points, nearly 100 more than the former school record, and led the SEC in scoring, becoming the first Auburn player to earn that honor. She also set the Auburn single-season scoring record with 716 points, averaging 21.1 per game, and earned WBCA/State Farm, USBWA, AP, and ESPN.com All-America honors.
DeWanna Bonner Career
Early Career (2009–2013)
Bonner was selected fifth overall in the 2009 WNBA draft by the Phoenix Mercury, and she made an immediate impact. In her first regular season game with the Mercury, she played 26 minutes and scored 16 points. She went on to win a WNBA championship with the Mercury during her rookie season, becoming one of the league’s most promising young players. In 2009, she was also named WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year, and she earned the award again in 2010 and 2011.
During the WNBA offseasons, Bonner began her international career in Europe, playing in the Czech Republic for Basketbalový Klub Brno in 2009–10, in Spain for Baloncesto Rivas in 2010–11, and for Perfumerías Avenida in 2011–12. She joined the United States women’s youth team in 2006, winning the 2006 FIBA Americas Under-20 Championship for Women and the FIBA Under-21 World Championship for Women the following year. Her development on both sides of the Atlantic helped her sharpen her perimeter skills and post play.
Phoenix Mercury Breakthrough (2009–2019)
Bonner’s tenure with the Mercury established her as one of the league’s elite scorers. On September 12, 2014, she won her second WNBA Championship with the Mercury, scoring 12 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists in the clinching game. In 2015, she was selected to her first WNBA All-Star Game and earned All-WNBA First Team honors, as well as a spot on the WNBA All-Defensive Second Team.
Bonner continued to develop her game overseas during this period, playing for Nadezhda Orenburg in Russia from 2012 to 2016, USK Praha in the Czech Republic from 2017 to 2018, Shandong Six Stars in China in 2018–19, and Dynamo Kursk in Russia in 2019–20. In 2017, Bonner sat out the WNBA season due to pregnancy. She returned to the Mercury in 2018 and was voted into the 2018 WNBA All-Star Game. The Mercury made the 2018 playoffs as the fifth seed and reached the semi-finals, where they lost in five games to the Seattle Storm. She earned additional All-Star selections in 2019 and 2021.
Connecticut Sun Era (2020–2024)
On February 11, 2020, Bonner was traded to the Connecticut Sun in exchange for three first-round draft picks, beginning a new chapter in her career. With the Sun, she continued her strong two-way play and was named to the All-WNBA Second Team in 2020. She added All-Star selections in 2021, 2023, and 2024, reinforcing her status among the league’s top forwards. She also played overseas for KSC Szekszárd in Hungary in 2021 and Çukurova Basketbol in Turkey in 2022–23.
In March 2018, Bonner received a Macedonian passport and became eligible to play for the North Macedonia national basketball team. She played her first game for North Macedonia in 2021 as part of the EuroBasket Women 2023 qualification, scoring 11 points with 9 rebounds in a victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Her international career with Macedonia added another dimension to her global résumé.
Phoenix Mercury Return (2025–Present)
On February 2, 2025, Bonner signed a one-year contract with the Indiana Fever, marking a brief return to the Eastern Conference. On May 17, in her regular season debut for the Fever, Bonner became the number three all-time leading scorer in the WNBA, passing Tina Thompson. She started the first three games of the season but came off the bench for the following six games with Lexie Hull earning the starting nod.
After the Fever’s June 13 game, Bonner was listed on injury reports as unavailable due to personal reasons. On June 24, it was reported that Bonner had no interest in returning to play for the Fever, and on June 25, the team announced that they had waived her. Bonner later stated that she felt the fit did not work out and preferred to play for teams such as the Phoenix Mercury or the Atlanta Dream. On July 8, 2025, Bonner returned to the Mercury, where she continues her professional career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Bonner’s career has been defined by longevity and sustained excellence. She is a two-time WNBA champion (2009, 2014), a six-time WNBA All-Star (2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024), and the 2020 All-WNBA Second Team selection. She passed Tina Thompson to become the third all-time leading scorer in WNBA history, a milestone that places her among the all-time greats of the league.
DeWanna Bonner Career Wins
DeWanna Bonner’s career has been highlighted by championships, All-Star selections, and historic scoring milestones across more than 15 WNBA seasons. Her trophy case includes two WNBA titles, an All-WNBA First Team nod in 2015, and an All-WNBA Second Team selection in 2020.
WNBA Highlights
Bonner won her first WNBA Championship with the Phoenix Mercury in 2009 as a rookie, helping the team capture the title in her debut season. She added a second championship on September 12, 2014, contributing 12 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists in the clinching game against the Chicago Sky. She has been selected to six WNBA All-Star Games and reached the 2020 All-WNBA Second Team.
Other Wins and Performances
Bonner was named WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year three consecutive seasons from 2009 to 2011. In 2009, she earned All-Rookie Team honors, the SEC Player of the Year award, the WBCA/State Farm All-American honor, USBWA All-American, and Second-team All-American from the AP. Earlier, she was named a McDonald’s All-American in 2005 and earned First-team All-SEC honors in 2007, 2008, and 2009.
DeWanna Bonner Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
DeWanna Bonner was born to LaShelle Bonner and Greg McCall in Fairfield, Alabama. She has three siblings: sister Vin’Centia Dewberry, brother Justin McCall, and sister Erica McCall, with whom she shares a birthday. Her family provided a strong support system that helped shape her basketball journey from an early age.
Personal Life
In November 2014, Bonner married fellow WNBA player and former Mercury teammate Candice Dupree. In April 2017, she announced she was pregnant and missed the 2017 WNBA season, and in July 2017, Bonner gave birth to twin daughters. Bonner and Dupree later split, and in 2023, she got engaged to former Sun and current Mercury teammate Alyssa Thomas, who proposed to Bonner during that year’s All-Star weekend.
2025 Season Performance
DeWanna Bonner’s 2025 season began with a major milestone. On May 17, in her regular season debut for the Indiana Fever, she became the third all-time leading scorer in WNBA history, surpassing Tina Thompson. She started the first three games of the season but moved to a bench role for the next six contests.
After listing on injury reports due to personal reasons, Bonner was waived by the Fever on June 25, 2025, after stating that the fit did not work out. Just two weeks later, on July 8, 2025, she returned to the Phoenix Mercury, the franchise where she began her career and won two championships.
Bonner’s return to Phoenix positioned her for a second-half push with a familiar organization. Her veteran scoring presence, rebounding, and experience continue to add value to the Mercury’s rotation as the team competes in the 2025 playoff picture.