Caitlin Clark's New Teammate Emerges as 'Mama Bear' for Fever
After a 20-20 finish and a first-round playoff exit in 2024, the Indiana Fever were busy this offseason, making several key moves to strengthen their roster. The goal was to give Caitlin Clark, who led the team in both scoring (19.2 PPG) and assists (8.4 APG) in her rookie year, more help outside of Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell.
They added Natasha Howard, Sophie Cunningham, Brianna Turner, DeWanna Bonner and more.
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Clark now enters Year 2 in the WNBA, and with a little more experience under her belt, she has taken on more of a leadership role. However, her resume doesn't yet compare to players like Howard and Bonner, who bring years of experience and championship pedigree to the locker room.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark reacts after a play.Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
After practice on Monday, new Fever head coach Stephanie White spoke to the media and discussed what Bonner brings to the team. White admitted that having the 37-year-old's "mama bear personality" in Indiana is "so important" for the rest of the squad.
"DB is vocal," White said. "She might not say it in front of the masses, but she certainly is going to bring the team together and bring players off to the side and talk to them about what it takes, about the little things. She's experienced a lot of different things, whether it's been teammates, playing with some of the best in the world, franchises, coaches, all of those things. And so just having her wisdom, having her knowledge, and having her mama bear personality. I mean, it's so important because she understands how to hold you accountable, but she understands how to love on you, too."
Clark also spoke about what Bonner means to the Fever, calling her "selfless leader."
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"She's such a selfless leader," Clark said. "Like, she's here to win. She says that, but she, like, really means it. And she leads in that example every single day."
Bonner joins the Fever after 15 seasons in the WNBA—10 with the Phoenix Mercury and the last five with the Connecticut Sun. The 6-foot-4 forward is a two-time WNBA champion (2009, 2014), a six-time All-Star, three-time Sixth Woman of the Year, and a two-time All-WNBA selection.
She averaged 15.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game last season.
Related: New Fever Coach Stephanie White Makes Big Caitlin Clark Admission
Related: Caitlin Clark Bangs Head Against Wall During Fever Training Camp
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