DeWanna Bonner

DeWanna Bonner: A Brief Biography

DeWanna Bonner is a professional player who plays in the Shooting Guard/Small Forward position. A 6'4" player, Bonner has been a good scorer on the basketball court ever since her high school career at Fairfield High School, where in 2005 she was chosen for a McDonald's All-American. She took her basketball talents to Auburn University, where she majored in psychology. She graduated with that degree but is most remembered for her accomplished basketball career at Auburn. She was the SEC Player of the Year in 2009, received several All-American nods, and is one of the best players in Auburn basketball history. She was the fifth overall pick in the 2009 WNBA Draft by the Phoenix Mercury.

During her time with the Mercury, she secured two WNBA titles (2009, 2014) and received the WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year honor three times (2009-2011). In 2020, Bonner was traded to the Connecticut Sun, where she continued her role as a star player and team captain. She married Alyssa Thomas, who is also a member of the Connecticut Sun. Bonner is a scoring machine and a go-to defender. She has played overseas in the Czech Republic, Turkey, and Russia.

DeWanna Bonner Early Life

DeWanna Bonner was born on August 21, 1987 in Fairfield, Alabama to LaShelle Bonner and Gregory McCall. She has three siblings named Vin’Centia Dewberry, Justin McCall and Erica McCall, who is also a WNBA player now for the Washington Mystics. Bonner was a rising basketball star at Fairfield High School, collecting accolades such as McDonald's All-American and the Gatorade Alabama Player of the Year. After a standout high school career, she joined Auburn University where she majored in psychology and continued her dominant path as she transitioned to the collegiate level of play which only sparked the beginning phases of what would soon become a lucrative professional basketball tenure.

DeWanna Bonner Personal Life

The personal life of DeWanna Bonner is as active as her basketball career. She is a mother of twin daughters, Cali and Demi, with her ex-wife, Candice Dupree, a former WNBA player. Bonner and Dupree got married in 2014 and the couple was blessed with twins in 2017 but the couple later divorced. Bonner started dating her Connecticut Sun teammate Alyssa Thomas in 2021 and the two got engaged in July 2023. They have been together happily and both athletes often post about each other and their progress on social media.

Apart from basketball, Bonner has other interests that she engages in to ensure that she is not stressed up most of the time. She enjoys pottery as a hobby which is also done by Thomas and most of the time, they spend together doing pottery works. Bonner also enjoys traveling and discovering new places, which she does with her family and friends.

DeWanna Bonner Wife

DeWanna Bonner is currently married to Alyssa Thomas, who is a professional WNBA player and currently plays for the Connecticut Sun, where Bonner herself is a Small Forward. She was drafted 4th overall in the 2014 WNBA Draft by the New York Liberty and was immediately traded to the Connecticut Suns, where she has remained for her entire WNBA career.

During her college career, Thomas was very decorated at her University of Maryland, holding all-time records in scoring with 2356 points, rebounding with 1235 rebounds, and double-doubles with 66. Only three players in NCAAW history have recorded six or more career triple-doubles, including her. She later had a similar impact in the WNBA and continued playing all-around with her all-time performance when she became the only WNBA player to record 15+ points, 15+ rebounds, and 10+ assists while boasting 0 turnovers.

DeWanna Bonner Kids

Bonner and her current partner Thomas do not have any children yet, though Bonner has twin daughters from her previous marriage to WNBA player Candace Dupree. The twin daughters are named Cali and Demi. They are about 7 years old as of August 2024.

DeWanna Bonner Social Media

DeWanna Bonner is fairly active in her social media circles. She has an Instagram account with a following of about 56.6k. She is seen posting about her latest games and news and also occasional posts with her loved ones. Her Instagram handle is @dewannabonner. She also has an X account with the username @DEEBONNER24.

DeWanna Bonner Career Stats

Bonner is one of the most talented players in the WNBA, who has been just showcasing all of her talents along with it while playing with different teams. Here are her detailed career statistics breaking down the stints, she had with the team:

Phoenix Mercury (2009-2019):

Bonner was drafted fifth overall by the Phoenix Mercury in the 2009 WNBA Draft. In total, she played 335 games for the Mercury and started in 233 of those games. Bonner averaged 14.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. She was instrumental in Mercury’s success in winning the WNBA championships in 2009 and 2014 and was an All-WNBA First Team selection in 2015. Bonner also received the WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year award three times in a row (2009-2011) proving her effectiveness coming off the bench.

Connecticut Sun (2020-present):

Bonner was traded to Connecticut Sun in 2020 and has been performing well in the team. In her first three seasons with the Sun, she has appeared in 160 games and started 159 of them. Bonner averaged 16.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. She has been a great leader and has brought a lot of experience to the Sun, which has seen them get to the WNBA finals in 2022. In the 2023 season, she continued to play at a high level, averaging 17.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game.

DeWanna Bonner Achievements

DeWanna Bonner is most known for her versatility as a defender and a post-scorer due to her slender frame and long wingspan. These have helped her garner respect from her peers as well as collect several accolades throughout her career. Here are some of her most notable accomplishments:

WNBA Championships (2009, 2014):

Bonner was a part of Phoenix Mercury where she played for and won two WNBA championships. She was instrumental in both title victories, especially in the 2009 season when she was a rookie.

WNBA All-Star

Bonner was named an All-Star six times which means that she was among the most talented players in the league during these years. Her All-Star selections show that she has been a consistent performer and a valuable asset to her teams.

All-WNBA First Team (2015):

In 2015, Bonner was awarded as a member of the All-WNBA First Team, which proves that she was one of the most valuable players of the 2015 WNBA season.

WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year (2009, 2010, 2011):

Bonner was awarded the Sixth Woman of the Year award for three years in a row, in 2009, 2010, and 2011. This award was given based on her court performance, which made her one of the most important assets of the league during those years.

All-Defensive Team (2015):

Bonner’s defense was recognized in 2015 when she was selected to the All-Defensive Second Team. She was also a good defender because she could block several positions and frustrate the opponents’ moves.

Connecticut Sun Franchise Records:

Bonner achieved many records with the Connecticut Sun; she holds the record for the highest points scored in a regular season with 697 points in the 2023 season.

Career Milestones:

Bonner has accumulated more than 7327 points, 2995 rebounds, and 1112 assists throughout her career. Her defensive statistics are also very high, with more than 590 steals and 325 blocks. She is in the 5th position on the WNBA All-Time scoring list as of September 2024.

DeWanna Bonner Contract

DeWanna Bonner is currently on a 1-year $200,000 deal with the Connecticut Sun, signed in February 2024, which includes an average annual salary of $200,000. Her previous contract was an extension, which she signed in February 2020 and was a 4-year $899,480 deal with the Phoenix Mercury, with an average annual salary of $224,870. Her current contract details are mentioned as follows:

DeWanna Bonner Diet

DeWanna Bonner is seen as a lanky and thin player, who looks like she doesn’t belong on the court, as per ESPN. Her lanky build prevents her from being able to muscle her way into the post, a fact Bonner acknowledges all too well. Coaches have been trying to bulk her up with protein shakes, extra carbs and high-calorie foods, but have all been in vain as she seems to have a very high metabolism and burns everything off quite effortlessly.