When the Indiana Fever signed veteran forward DeWanna Bonner during the offseason, the move seemed like a natural fit. A two-time WNBA champion and six-time All-Star, Bonner brought a wealth of experience to a Fever squad full of rising young talent. Her leadership and proven track record were expected to help guide the team’s development.
However, that promising partnership unraveled faster than expected. Less than two months into the season, Bonner and the Fever abruptly went their separate ways, with little explanation. The split raised eyebrows, especially after head coach Stephanie White—who had previously coached Bonner for two seasons with the Connecticut Sun—made comments that suggested a falling-out.
“I haven’t had many conversations with [Bonner] recently,” White said, according to Chloe Peterson of the IndyStar via a post on X. “Right now, our focus is on the players we have here and what we need to do to put ourselves in a position to win.”
Soon after, the team announced it had officially waived Bonner on Wednesday.
In a statement released through the team, Bonner expressed gratitude toward the organization but acknowledged that things hadn’t gone according to plan. “I’m truly thankful to the Indiana Fever for giving me the opportunity to be part of their franchise,” she said. “Even though we began the season with shared goals and excitement, it became clear that the fit wasn’t right. I appreciate the Fever respecting my decision to move on, especially at this stage in my career. I sincerely wish the team all the best as they continue building around their promising young core.”
Following her departure, online speculation swirled, with some critics accusing Bonner of abandoning her teammates midseason. She directly addressed those accusations in a strongly worded Instagram post the next day.
“A QUITTER!! Nah, never been that!!” Bonner wrote. “But when the time comes… let’s just make sure the apologies are just as loud as the disrespect!! IN DUE TIME…”
While she didn’t clarify the full meaning behind the cryptic message, her response suggested frustration with how the narrative around her exit was being framed. Without further detail from Bonner or the team, speculation is likely to continue—but for now, the WNBA’s third all-time leading scorer finds herself back on the market, and her next move remains uncertain.
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