Latest news with #DeWannaBonner
USA Today
an hour ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Mercury star Kahleah Copper blasts Indiana Fever fans for booing DeWanna Bonner
Following Indiana's 107-101 victory over Phoenix in front of a raucous Gainbridge Fieldhouse crowd on Wednesday night, Mercury star guard Kahleah Copper ripped the actions of the Fever fans for relentlessly booing former Indiana star DeWanna Bonner throughout the game. Bonner played just nine games with the Fever in the early portion of the 2025 season before requesting a trade, feeling out of place within the franchise's young core. Indiana subsequently waived her on June 25 after the Fever were unable to find a suitable trade partner for the 14-year veteran forward. To seemingly nobody's surprise, Bonner was serenaded continuously throughout the game with boos and jeers whenever the veteran forward was mentioned or touched the basketball. Adding to the torment, Bonner struggled during her 21 minutes of playing time off the bench by scoring just four points on 1-for-4 from the field and 2-for-3 from the free-throw line. Cooper, who is one of the more energetic scoring threats for the Mercury, labeled the Indiana fans' actions as "disrespectful" and "unnecessary," considering the impact Bonner has had on the league during her career. "I just don't understand. Like, she's a legend. All the things she's done for the league, and just then the disrespect, I just can't get down with it. They booed her. She didn't say a word to the crowd. People talked some trash to her, but we had her back," Copper said. "It's just very distasteful what their fan base is doing when it comes to DB [DeWanna Bonner]. She is just the sweetest soul. The situation didn't work for her. It just wasn't what she wanted or whatever, but we don't need all of that. It's just unnecessary." Despite a June 26 statement clarifying her abrupt decision to leave the Fever as "just not the right fit," Indiana fans did not buy into the veteran's explanation, especially after almost immediately rejoining a talented Phoenix squad that could be viewed as one of the top title contenders out of the WNBA's Western Conference. Ironically, Bonner's departure allowed the Fever to recoup enough salary cap space to sign guard Aari McDonald for the remainder of the season. In the ultimate karma moment for Fever fans, McDonald was seemingly unstoppable Wednesday night by posting a career-high 27 points on 7-for-11 shooting from the field, including 3-for-4 from 3-point territory. The 5-foot-6 guard was also a perfect 10-of-10 from the free-throw line during her 31 minutes of action. The Fever and Mercury Will meet two more times this season, with both games taking place at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. With the first of those two remaining meetings occurring on Aug. 7, it will be very interesting to see how Mercury fans plan to get retribution on the Fever. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Indiana Fever forward DeWanna Bonner signing with WNBA power
Following a short stint with the Indiana Fever, veteran forward DeWanna Bonner is expected to sign with a prominent WNBA powerhouse. In her nine games with the Fever this season, she averaged 7.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game on 34.5% shooting from the field. After taking a five-game absence from the team due to "personal reasons", Bonner requested a trade by the Fever so she could play in a larger role elsewhere. After finding no success in the trade market, Indiana elected to waive Bonner on June 25. With Bonner now a free agent, she is expected to sign with the Phoenix Mercury (12-6) in the coming days. The mid-season acquisition by the Mercury will serve as a reunion between the two, as Phoenix selected Bonner with the No. 5 pick in the 2009 WNBA draft. Bonner would play 10 seasons with the Mercury, where she won WNBA championships in 2009 and 2014, earned All-Star status three times (2015, 2018, and 2019), and won WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year three times (2009, 2010, 2011) before departing for the Connecticut Sun in 2020. In her now-16 seasons for the Mercury, Sun, and Fever, Bonner holds career averages of 14.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.2 steals in 511 regular-season games. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Former Indiana Fever star DeWanna Bonner signing with Phoenix Mercury
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mercury's Kahleah Copper slams 'distasteful' Fever fans for booing DeWanna Bonner
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 Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff. Support local journalism: Subscribe to today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Indiana Fever fans slammed as 'distasteful' by Phoenix Mercury star
Indianapolis Star
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
DeWanna Bonner booed, Fever rolling, WNBA trade deadline looming
DeWanna Bonner booed, Fever rolling, WNBA trade deadline looming IndyStar Insider Chloe Peterson and Brian Haenchen break down the Fever's win over Phoenix that had a little extra, plus a look at WNBA trade deadline
Fox News
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox News
Mercury star rips Fever fans for booing DeWanna Bonner, who bailed on team after 9 games
Phoenix Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner returned to Indianapolis on Wednesday night in her first game against the Indiana Fever since the two sides split earlier in the season. When Bonner checked into the game, she received some boos from the Fever crowd. She scored four points in 21 minutes as Indiana picked up the win over Phoenix, 107-101. The boos didn't sit right with Mercury star Kahleah Copper. The four-time All-Star and WNBA champion thought Bonner handled the boos well, but she didn't understand why the jeers happened in the first place. "I just don't understand. Like, she's a legend. All the things she's done for the league, and just then the disrespect, I just can't get down with it. They booed her. She didn't say a word to the crowd. People talked some trash to her, but we had her back," Copper said, via the Indy Star. "It's just very distasteful what their fan base is doing when it comes to DB. She is just the sweetest soul. The situation didn't work for her. It just wasn't what she wanted or whatever, but we don't need all of that. It's just unnecessary." Fever fans drew ire from WNBA players around the league. Earlier in the year, one fan in Indianapolis was accused of making hateful comments toward Chicago Sky players. The WNBA found no evidence of the claim. Bonner was among the new faces who joined the Fever in the offseason following five seasons with the Connecticut Sun. She only ended up playing nine games with Indiana. She said upon her release that the "fit" wasn't right. Bonner returned to the Mercury where she started her career soon after her release.
