DeWanna Bonner looked washed up in Indianapolis. Nine games in a Fever uniform, career-low numbers, and then she just quit. But watch her drop 22 points and 11 rebounds in her second game back with Phoenix, and suddenly fans are asking the real question: Did she tank her way out of Indiana?
How Did DeWanna Bonner’s Return to Phoenix Expose Her Fever Struggles?
Bonner’s move back to the Phoenix Mercury after her stint with the Indiana Fever shows the difference between playing at home and playing somewhere you don’t want to be. The six-time All-Star’s departure from Indianapolis created a major shake-up in the WNBA community.
Her second game back with Phoenix told the whole story. The veteran forward put up 22 points and 11 rebounds, leading the Mercury to a 78-77 victory over the Golden State Valkyries. Phoenix celebrated the performance on social media, highlighting that this was just the fifth time in Mercury history someone had achieved this feat.
Just the fifth time in Mercury history. And DB owns all of them. pic.twitter.com/ZEluFibWM4
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) July 15, 2025
The turnaround was dramatic. In Indianapolis, Bonner struggled to fit into the Fever’s system. She started three games before being moved to the bench, putting up career-low numbers while shooting poorly from the field. Her time with the Fever was brief, lasting just nine games before everything fell apart.
The situation got worse in June when Bonner stepped away from the team for “personal reasons,” missing five straight games. Reports surfaced that she had “no interest” in returning to Indianapolis, showing a poor fit between player and organization. After the Fever couldn’t find a trade partner, they waived Bonner on June 25. She later said the fit “did not work out.”
Why Are Fans Calling Bonner’s Move Unethical?
Phoenix’s celebration of Bonner’s return sparked immediate backlash from fans who saw something fishy about the whole situation. When the Mercury posted, “Turns out DB is still really good at basketball” on X, the comments section exploded with criticism.
Turns out DB is still really good at basketball 🤷♀️ pic.twitter.com/4osx2LLF9j
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) July 15, 2025
The fan reaction was brutal. “Yup… she is good. She scammed a franchise for real,” one user wrote, suggesting that Bonner had deliberately underperformed in Indiana to get back to Phoenix.
Yup… she is good. She scammed a franchise for real.
— LadyChiInTheCorner (@ChibiTine27) July 15, 2025
Another fan was just as harsh: “No matter how you spin it. What she did was dodgy,” they added, calling out what they saw as ethically questionable behavior around her mid-season departure.
The contrast between her performances became the smoking gun for critics. “Turns out she gave very little effort while on the Fever,” one user commented, pointing to the stark difference between her struggles in Indianapolis and her immediate impact back in Phoenix.
Turns out she gave very little effort while on the Fever…
— Kerry Halvarson (@KMHalvarson) July 15, 2025
The harshest criticism came from fans who saw her actions as abandoning her teammates. “Flexing a quitter is crazy. She is a fraud,” wrote one critic, summing up the feelings of those who viewed Bonner’s departure as unprofessional.
The whole situation raises questions about player commitment and whether stars can essentially force their way out of situations by underperforming. For fans watching, the timing looks suspicious: struggle in Indianapolis, quit the team, then immediately excel back in Phoenix, where she wanted to be all along.
Because everyone recognizes a cheater and scammer and no one likes them at all. In fact they despise them.
Why do they care? They have Caitlin Clark! LOL