Mercury's Kahleah Copper slams 'distasteful' Fever fans for booing DeWanna Bonner

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5 days ago

The Phoenix Mercury's DeWanna Bonner made her return to the Indiana Fever on July 30 after being waived by the team on June 25 after it couldn't find a trade partner for her.
Fever fans apparently don't have fond memories of her short tenure in Indiana. They booed Bonner relentlessly during the Fever's 107-101 win over Phoenix, with some fans also talking trash to the WNBA player and yelling out "quitter," according to the Indianapolis Star.
The treatment of Bonner did not sit well with the Mercury's Kahleah Copper, who slammed the Fever fans for their "distasteful" behavior toward her teammate after the game.
More: Phoenix Mercury's losing streak against Indiana Fever extends to 6 games
Kahleah Copper calls out 'distasteful' Indiana Fever fans
'I just don't understand,' Copper told reporters about the fans' behavior toward Bonner. 'She a legend and just all the things she's done for the league. Just the disrespect, I can't get down with it. They booed her. She didn't say a word to the crowd. People talk some trash to her, but we had her back.
'It's just very distasteful for what their fan base is doing as far as when it comes to [Bonner] because she's just sweet or so. The situation didn't work for her. That's just not what she wanted or whatever, but we don't need all of that. It's just unnecessary.'
DeWanna Bonner on Fever: 'The fit did not work out'
Indiana signed Bonner in the offseason, but she requested a trade after just nine games with the team. After being away from the team for five games for personal reasons, the Fever released her and Bonner signed with the Mercury, where she began her NBA career.
'I want to sincerely thank the Indiana Fever for the opportunity to be part of the Fever franchise," Bonner said in a news release upon her release from the team. "Despite our shared goals and excitement heading into the season, I felt the fit did not work out and I appreciate the organization's willingness to grant my request to move on, particularly at this point in my career. I wish the Fever great success as they continue to build around this dynamic group of young players.'
Some Indiana fans harbor ill feelings toward Bonner, based on their treatment of her during the game.
Alyssa Thomas, Bonner's teammate and fiancée, was seen at one point yelling at some people in the crowd, presumably over the treatment of Bonner.
What Nate Tibbetts said about Fever fans' treatment of DeWanna Bonner
Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts had a much more guarded reaction to Bonner's reception than Copper and other Mercury players.
"I didn't see that, (but) I would guess so. AT (Alyssa Thomas) is a competitive player. Just like their players talk to their fans, our players are going to do the same," Tibbetts told reporters after the game. "I thought (Bonner) handled it fine. That's how sports work, you go to a former home of yours when you don't leave on your terms and typically fans aren't going to be happy. That's what they did tonight."
Reach Jeremy Cluff at [e-mail]. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Indiana Fever fans slammed as 'distasteful' by Phoenix Mercury star