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DeWanna Bonner is one of the greatest players in WNBA history. However, the 37-year-old is not as good as she once was and recently proved that she cannot handle a lesser role on a team that doesn’t fit her vision for the rest of her career.
She effectively quit the Indiana Fever to play alongside her fiancée.
Before we go any further here, let me make one thing very clear. I completely understand the impact of Bonner on the WNBA and women’s basketball as a whole. Six All-Star appearances and two league titles is going to put her in the Hall of Fame. She was virtually unstoppable at Auburn. That’s all great.
I am focused only on the last five months. DeWanna Bonner is not the same player at 37 as she was a decade ago and that is okay! The league has passed her by. The younger generation caught up.
Bonner signed with the Indiana Fever during the offseason but her tenure with the club lasted just a few months. She averaged 7.1 points and 3.8 rebounds in 21.3 minutes over nine games. Meh.
However, Bonner decided to take a mysterious leave of absence after a loss to Atlanta on June 10 and never returned. Some people thought she was going to retire. Others thought it was something more personal. Everyone wanted to be sure she was okay.
As it would turn out, based on a cryptic post to Instagram, she just didn’t want to be there anymore. DeWanna Bonner effectively quit on the Fever. Indiana later granted the veteran’s request to leave and subsequently sent her to waivers.
That leads us to Monday night. Bonner sat courtside at the Phoenix Mercury’s win over the Dallas Wings.
Her fiancée, Alyssa Thomas, currently plays for the Mercury. It was not a secret that Bonner wanted to join her. And sure enough, that is exactly what happened. Phoenix announced her signing on Tuesday.
With the addition came a subtraction. Nigerian rookie Murjanatu Musa got cut.
Don’t get me wrong. I know Musa was largely unimportant to the rotation. I know how cool it is for a legend like Bonner to (likely) finish her career at the same place it began. Her brand is massive. It is a good move for the organization in terms of popularity. I get it.
This still sucks for Musa. A 25-year-old rookie in the WNBA was kicked to the curb so she could be replaced by a washed-up quitter who wants to play alongside her fiancée. You hate to see it!
The post Phoenix Mercury Cut Rookie Player So Washed-Up Quitter Can Finish Career Alongside Fiancée appeared first on BroBible.