Latest news with #DeWannaBonner
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Brittney Griner's return highlights emotional rollercoaster in Mercury's loss to Dream
The post Brittney Griner's return highlights emotional rollercoaster in Mercury's loss to Dream appeared first on ClutchPoints. PHOENIX — The talk of the WNBA and the Phoenix Mercury was Brittney Griner's return to the Valley of the Sun as a member of the Atlanta Dream. During her stay with the franchise for 11 seasons, she made an incredible mark. Griner won the 2014 WNBA title and multiple Defensive Player of the Year awards among other accolades with the Mercury. She herself felt the spotlight on her, as it has been for the majority of her career. Before Wednesday's game, she spoke to roughly 15-20 reporters with cameras and microphones recording. She took the time and answered everyone's questions with authenticity and sincerity. When the introductions came on, a nearly three-minute video of Griner's on- and off-court achievements played for the entire PHX Arena to see. With tears streaming down her face, she crossed her arms in an X, symbolizing the X-factor. Even players like DeWanna Bonner and Kahleah Copper said hello to her before the game. Assistant coach Michael Joiner and Griner had a big hug. Not to mention, Mercury president Vince Kozar came up to Griner after her media scrum and gave her a hug for nearly ten seconds. That's only a symbol of the love the city, the fanbase, and the organization still have for her. Still, Griner is a basketball player, and a damn good one too. Early in the first quarter, she finished a patented and-one for her first bucket of the game, and it was back to business. She was in deep post position constantly, showing that the 12-year veteran has more tricks up her sleeve. Although Allisha Gray led the Dream with 28 points, it's hard to deny Griner's impact on the hardwood. How did Mercury players feel about Brittney Griner's return? At the team's shootaround on Wednesday, and the previous two practice availabilities, much of the same was said. Everyone was excited. However, the excitement disappeared once the ball left the officials hands to tip it off. Someone who understood that jubilation would be DeWanna Bonner. After the latter re-signed with the Mercury, she was the only player who remembered that Mercury 2014 championship with Griner by her side. Furthermore, former teammate Brionna Jones joined forces with Griner and the two of them have dominated the interior for the Dream Later in the game, another one of their teammates, Diana Taurasi, and her wife, Penny, were courtside with Kozar. The potential storylines and distractions could've made any player fall to the pressure. Not for Bonner, though. 'I don't think I would see it as a distraction, not to me personally,' Bonner said. 'Bri (Jones), I've been playing with her for a lot of years, and it was good to see her. But it was BG's welcome home night, so that was huge, but it's an honor to have the Penny (Taylor) come back and see us play. 'We always want to try to put on a good show because we wouldn't be here without them. I don't know if it's a distraction, but at the same time I feel like it's a little bit of motivation for me, and everybody. This is something they built and we're just trying to continue it on.' The Mercury's emotions ran high all-night It wasn't the return of familiar faces that let the emotional battery run on full power. It was also the officiating, or lack there of. On both sides, players were being hacked and then some. It felt as if every call the officials didn't make, they would make it up to the other team. As a result, Bonner had enough and let her passion take over, resulting in a technical foul. Moments later, Alyssa Thomas picked one up, which led to an onslaught of boos from the crowd. Did Taurasi's history of technical foul antics resurface on Wednesday night? Jokingly speaking, probably. However, two very physical teams squared off, and it left players battered and bruised. Head coach Nate Tibbetts was surprisingly a fan of the technical fouls, and cited the competitive nature behind them. 'I think it's a competitive sport, I don't mind technicals, to be quite honest. I think it shows that we care and sometimes, it helps your team,' Tibbetts said. 'We just searched all night, and the technicals didn't help us. We didn't get stops that we need. It was a tough 40 minutes. It's tough to coach, tough to play, tough to watch.' How can Phoenix fan that emotional flame? Bonner understands that balance better than everyone. Part of why her and Thomas worked so well in Connecticut was because of how well they played off one another. Not from an X's and O's standpoint, but on an emotional level. 'The engine' is more even-keeled, while Bonner will ride the emotional wave. It's a nice balance for the two. Regardless of it, the veteran knows finding the right time to show emotion is critical. 'I think we got to do a better job at that. Just control what we can control and kind of channel my energy to something different in the game,' Bonner said. 'Emotions, that's just a part of the game, but we can't let it affect either side of the ball. Whether that's offensive, defensive, so just figuring out how we can channel that into being something that's beneficial to us and not hurting us in the end of the game.' The Mercury have a short turnaround before heading on a five-game road trip on the east coast. They'll take on the New York Liberty on Friday, and hope to have their Big Three and the rest of the team fully healthy. Related: Dream news: Brittney Griner speaks up on Phoenix homecoming before Mercury clash Related: Brittney Griner's former Mercury teammates react to Phoenix return
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dream news: Brittney Griner speaks up on Phoenix homecoming before Mercury clash
The post Dream news: Brittney Griner speaks up on Phoenix homecoming before Mercury clash appeared first on ClutchPoints. Atlanta Dream center and WNBA veteran Brittney Griner is embarking on her return to play against the Phoenix Mercury. Something that has her former Mercury teammates excited, including Kahleah Copper and DeWanna Bonner. The Dream is taking on the Mercury in Phoenix on Wednesday. Before the game, Griner shared her thoughts on returning to play against her former team, as reported by Shane Young of Forbes. Griner said that the city means a great deal to her and that she continues to receive support. 'The valley has always been behind me,' she said. 'Always supported me. Whenever I wanted to do something, they were always there for me and my family. Still showing me love even after the fact. It wasn't any hard ill will or anything. That was the moment when I thought, 'Yeah, okay.' I always knew, but that showed a lot.' In addition, Griner spoke about being traded from the Mercury to the Dream in January. She said it was a hard decision to leave Phoenix, but she was glad that each side got something out of it. 'The business part is always tough,' Griner said. 'Tough conversations, especially when you've been somewhere so long where it just feels like family. It's hard to have those tough conversations, but it's all love. I'm happy for them. I'm happy for myself as well. So everything all worked out.' Griner is averaging 10.2 points and 5.7 rebounds per game this year. Meanwhile, the Dream are sitting at 13-10. As for the Mercury, they are 15-7 on the year and 4.5 games behind the first-place Minnesota Lynx in the Western Conference. Brittney Griner's career in Phoenix Griner left her mark with the Mercury. She played in Phoenix for 11 seasons and won the 2014 WNBA Championship. In addition, Griner became a 10-time All-Star, two-time WNBA scoring champion, and an eight-time leader in blocks. Not only that, she won two WNBA Defensive Player of the Year awards. She still holds franchise records in rebounds (2,322) and blocks (812). Related: Atlanta Dream star Allisha Gray has an interesting HBCU connection Related: Dream's Brittney Griner relives horrific moments before Russian prisoner swap
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
DeWanna Bonner gets 100% real on Fever ‘journey'
The post DeWanna Bonner gets 100% real on Fever 'journey' appeared first on ClutchPoints. It hasn't been that long since DeWonna Bonner left the Indiana Fever for the Phoenix Mercury. Next Wednesday, Bonner will make her return to Indiana as the Mercury takes on the Fever. On Saturday, Bonner expressed her feelings about returning to Indiana after she left, according to ESPN. When asked about what she would do differently, Bonner said that she has no regrets about her decision. 'I wouldn't do anything differently, I think my journey is my journey, and I'm going to accept that,' she said. 'It carried me to where I am now in Phoenix, and it happened that way for a reason.' Bonner is a 14-year WNBA veteran. She first entered the league in 2009 with the Mercury and remained with them until 2019. Since then, she has gone on to play for the Connecticut Sun before joining the Fever in February. At the time, the Fever were considered title contenders. Bonner joined alongside Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, Tiffany Mitchell, and Kelsey Mitchell. However, Bonner left because they did not feel adjusted to the system. Additionally, she refuted claims that her upset at being taken off the bench was the basis for her departure. 'That wasn't ever the issue. That's never been me,' Bonner said. 'I have no problems coming off the bench. I have never been that player. I don't feel like I have that reputation.' Bonner is a six-time WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year. Additionally, she is a six-time All-Star and a two-time WNBA champion. DeWanna Bonner and her play with the Mercury Upon returning to the Mercury, DeWanna Bonner found her place on a contending team. As of now, the Mercury are 15-9 in the Western Conference. They are trailing six games behind the first-place Minnesota Lynx. Meanwhile, Bonner is averaging 9.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. All in all, Bonner's addition has been a positive development. She has made considerable contributions coming off the bench and has put up some notable performances. On July 14, she scored a season high 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds against the Golden State Valkyries. In her first four games, she averaged 14.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. Related: Brittney Griner's return highlights emotional rollercoaster in Mercury's loss to Dream Related: Dream news: Brittney Griner speaks up on Phoenix homecoming before Mercury clash
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
DeWanna Bonner says she has no regrets about 9-game Fever tenure after landing with Mercury
DeWanna Bonner was the Indiana Fever's loudest addition to its Caitlin Clark-led core in 2025. She wound up playing only nine games before reportedly requesting the team trade or release her. The team granted her the release after failing to find a trade partner, ending her tenure after only nine games, six of which she came off the bench. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Now with the Phoenix Mercury, her old team of 11 years, and playing alongside fiancée Alyssa Thomas, Bonner is set to face the Fever for the first time this season on the road. Speaking with reporters this weekend, Bonner indicated she has no problems with how this season has so far worked out. From the Associated Press: 'I wouldn't do anything differently. I think my journey is my journey and I'm going to accept that,' Bonner said. 'It carried me to where I am now in Phoenix and it happened that way for a reason.' Bonner's time with the Fever began well enough, moving to third on the all-time scoring list in the team's season opener. She was brought in to be the classic veteran addition to a young core, joining the team on a $200,000 unprotected contract in February. As Yahoo Sports' Cassandra Negley broke down at the time of her release, there was nothing but positivity around Bonner as the Fever entered the season. Both Bonner and head coach Stephanie White talked about her being a "puzzle piece" and Clark was seen in the opener urging her teammates to help Bonner reach the scoring milestone. Three games in, however, the Fever pulled Bonner from the starting lineup in favor of Lexie Hull. Six games later, she was announced as out due to "personal reasons" and never played for the team again. Via the AP, she said the change from starter to bench player didn't bother her: 'That wasn't ever the issue, that's never been me,' said Bonner, who has won the WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year award three times. 'I have no problems coming off the bench. I have never been that player. I don't feel like I have that reputation.' Bonner has started only one of her five games with the Mercury this season, while averaging 13.4 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 47.8%, all numbers far better than her limited time with the Fever. Phoenix entered Saturday with the third-best record in the league at 15-9, while Indiana is sixth at 13-12.
NBC Sports
3 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
DeWanna Bonner returns to Phoenix: ‘The love and welcome was very much needed'
DeWanna Bonner is happy to be back home in Phoenix. The veteran spent the first 10 years of her career with the Mercury before leaving for Connecticut and then a brief stint in Indiana to start the season. When that didn't work out, she signed with Phoenix earlier this month. 'I wouldn't do anything differently. I think my journey is my journey and I'm going to accept that,' Bonner said. 'It carried me to where I am now in Phoenix and it happened that way for a reason.' The 37-year-old wing was focused on her future with Phoenix more than dwelling on the past or what went wrong in Indiana that ended with the team releasing her. She did find the narrative that she was disgruntled to come off the bench amusing after starting the first few games for the Fever. In the opener she moved into third on the WNBA career scoring list. 'That wasn't ever the issue, that's never been me,' said Bonner, who has won the WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year award three times. 'I have no problems coming off the bench. I have never been that player. I don't feel like I have that reputation.' Phoenix began a five-game road trip in New York on Friday night and lost 89-76. She had nine points. 'DB is a really good addition for us. She can play the two, the three and four and maybe even some five, depending on different lineups that, we'll look at starting here, moving forward,' Phoenix coach Nate Tibbetts said. 'She's won championships. You know, her second game with us, we go on to Golden State, have some injuries and she goes for 22 and 11. You know, we're not winning that game without her so she's been a huge pickup for us.' The Mercury will head to Indiana on Wednesday and Bonner said she wasn't sure what the reaction will be from the fans. 'I'm just going to go out and do my job,' she said. 'They have every right to go out and do what they want to do, I'm just going to go out and compete with my team.' It wasn't all bad in Indiana for Bonner, who was only a four-hour drive from her 7-year-old twin daughters, who turn eight soon. 'I got to spend more time with them then before,' she said. Bonner hopes to lift the Mercury to another championship. She helped the franchise win two after getting drafted fifth by the team in 2009. 'Getting back to Phoenix after so long, the love and the welcome that I had was very much needed and appreciated,' Bonner said. 'Coming back to people that I know.' The biggest change she has seen in her time away has been in the building that the team plays in. 'I walk into the arena for game day and I had no idea where I was going, and it was crazy because I was there for 10 years every day,' Bonner said. 'Everything is different, but the fans are still the same, a couple people in the front office are the same.'
