Once considered a cornerstone of the WNBA, five-time All-Star and two-time champion Dana Bonner has seen her reputation disintegrate almost overnight. In a stunning series of events that left fans and teammates reeling, Bonner not only quit mid-season on the Indiana Fever but attempted to orchestrate a one-team-only trade to the Phoenix Mercury—only to watch it all backfire spectacularly.
The drama began not on the court, but off it. Bonner, 36, quietly stepped away from the Indiana Fever for what was officially listed as “personal reasons.” For six games, her absence remained unexplained, fueling speculation. Was she injured? Sick? Family emergency? None of the above. Sources close to the team, and fans alike, quickly realized something deeper was brewing—something far less noble.
According to multiple reports, Bonner abruptly decided she no longer wanted to be part of the Fever’s rebuilding process, especially with rookie phenom Caitlin Clark taking center stage. Rather than stay and guide the team as its veteran leader, Bonner chose to exit without warning or effort to reconcile, blindsiding her teammates and the organization.
Her real play? To force a move to the Phoenix Mercury, where her girlfriend Alyssa Thomas currently plays. Bonner even reportedly told all other WNBA teams not to bother trying to claim her off waivers—she’d only join the Mercury. It was a bold, some would say arrogant, move. And it completely backfired.
When the Indiana Fever waived Bonner, not a single team came calling—not even the Mercury. The message was loud and clear: the WNBA isn’t interested in being held hostage by a player who walks out mid-season and expects royal treatment.
This wasn’t just a team rejecting a player. It was a league-wide rejection. Front offices across the board understood the risk: if Bonner could quit on Indiana, she could quit on anyone. It was, in the eyes of many, an unforgivable breach of professionalism.
Adding insult to injury, Bonner’s refusal to play for any team besides Phoenix also cost her financially. If any team had claimed her off waivers, she would’ve retained her full $200,000 salary. But due to her diva-like conditions, she’s now looking at a pro-rated deal worth barely $80,000—more than a 50% pay cut. That’s not just a misstep. That’s a face-plant.
Even more brutal is that Phoenix, her supposed destination, isn’t rushing to her rescue. The Mercury are doing just fine without her. They’ve built chemistry, momentum, and a strong young core. Why throw that away for a player with a suitcase full of bad press?
And while Bonner sits at home, iced out of the league she once dominated, Caitlin Clark is left to clean up the mess. Clark, the WNBA’s brightest rookie and arguably its most marketable talent, counted on Bonner’s leadership. Instead, she’s been left to navigate locker room chaos with media and fan pressure unlike anything seen before in the women’s game.
Fans are furious. Teammates are disappointed. And the phrase “pulling a Bonner” is quickly becoming internet shorthand for quitting when things get tough. It’s a stunning fall from grace for a player once respected as a steady hand and locker room anchor.
This saga is more than a story of one player’s miscalculation. It’s a cautionary tale about ego, entitlement, and the cost of burning bridges. Bonner gambled that her stature would give her leverage. Instead, she lost the trust of the league, the respect of her peers, and over $100,000 in salary.
In just a few weeks, Dana Bonner has gone from being a respected WNBA veteran to a cautionary tale whispered about in front offices and shouted about in comment sections.
Will she get a second chance? Only time will tell. But for now, she’s not just off the court—she’s off the map.
