By Lynn Nichols
INDIANAPOLIS, IN — In a legendary opening-day performance, Indian Fever’s DeWanna Bonner reached a significant career milestone, tying for third place on the WNBA’s all-time scoring list with six points. The Fever’s dominating 93-58 win over the Chicago Sky wasn’t the only noticeable achievement on the day. This moment was a celebration for Bonner and her team, marking the beginning of a promising season.
“I knew I tied it,” Bonner said. “So, I was excited about that too just in case I missed the free throw. But, um, tying it was just exciting, you know. So, uh, man, that was a moment. That was a moment that I was kind of looking forward to, and I’m glad this is kind of over. So now we can just look forward and focus on the season.“
Bonner acknowledged the challenge and privilege of reaching such a position. “I think I’m just, just grateful. Um, most people don’t get up there. That’s really hard to do, you know. That’s really hard to be in that position and to be in the league this long,” she said. “So, just to be in that position to get there was just, I don’t know. I’m just grateful. I’m just trying to soak it in at the moment. Yeah. Especially in front of all those fans.“
Despite being relatively new to her current team, Bonner quickly became a leading voice in the locker room. “I just figure I’ve been around a very long time, you know, so I kind of know the ins and outs of this league; it doesn’t change much,” she said. “And from this moment, there hasn’t been, uh, any doubt in my leadership, I think. And that’s what I kind of appreciate about this group. They really trust me, and they really listen to me, and they learn from me.“
Reflecting on her WNBA journey, Bonner credited her development to playing alongside legends such as Diana Taurasi. “I mean, I always say I played with the greatest of all time and Diana, and if I’ve learned anything, I had the blueprint to stay in this league,” Bonner explained.
“So, from the moment I stepped into this league from day one, I was drafted to Phoenix. I was drafted under her, and I got to watch and see how she worked every day, and that kind of just motivated me like, ‘Yeah, I want to be that. I want to follow those footsteps.’“
For Bonner, the season opener was nearly perfect, characterized by the enthusiastic crowd and the team’s overall performance. Yet, she remains focused on the future.
“Oh yeah, a perfect opening day, but we know we could have. We did many great things, but there’s a lot of stuff we could have done better,” Bonner said. “But at the same time, I think a little for myself, I’ve never played in front of a crowd like this before, you know, like coming into the league uh 16, 17 years ago, we didn’t have this type of attention.”
Bonner’s blend of humility, leadership, and determination sets the tone for the season. She looks to guide her team towards greater achievements while savoring her personal accomplishments.
