DeWanna Bonner requested and agreed to a contract buyout from the Phoenix Mercury to join a championship contender before the 2026 WNBA postseason.

"At this stage of my career, I don't know what the future holds, but I'm grateful to the Mercury for giving me the opportunity to play in what could be one of my final postseason opportunities," Bonner said, per ESPN.

Bonner's history with Phoenix goes back to 2009, when the Mercury drafted her fifth overall.

She spent her first 10 seasons there, won two championships in 2009 and 2014, made three All-Star teams and picked up three Sixth Woman of the Year awards before Phoenix traded her to Connecticut in 2020.

Five seasons with the Sun added more All-Star nods and a trip to the 2022 Finals. But she returned to the Mercury again in 2025 and helped them reach the WNBA Finals.

"The fans, this community and the Mercury organization have embraced me throughout my career, and I'll always be grateful for that," Bonner added, per ESPN's Kareem Copeland.

The current agreement was entirely driven by the team's standing and Bonner's career timeline.

The Mercury dropped to a 13-24 record after a 99-89 loss to the Atlanta Dream and were officially eliminated from playoff contention for the 2026 season.

And at 39 years old and in her 17th pro season, Bonner has hinted that this year could be her last in the league.

So, rather than letting a legend finish the year on an eliminated team, Phoenix chose to support her goals.

"Because of the relationship we have with DeWanna, we worked out a buyout agreement that gives her the opportunity to chase a title in what could be her final postseason," Phoenix Mercury General Manager Nick U'Ren said, per ESPN.

Bonner's agent, Mike Cound, also said that the organization handled the situation with class.

"They were great," Cound told ESPN. "Many teams in the league wouldn't consider this, but this is a special circumstance and Phoenix is a very player-friendly organization. She's really appreciative of them."

So, what's next for DeWanna Bonner?

Bonner was playing this season on a one-year, unprotected contract worth $500,000. Phoenix structured the buyout terms based on time served.

Bonner now enters the WNBA waiver wire for 48 hours. Any team wanting to claim her directly off waivers must have the full $500,000 cap space available to take on her contract. If no team claims her during that window, she becomes an unrestricted free agent.

Once free, she can sign with any team for a veteran minimum contract, roughly $35,000 for the remainder of the regular season.

And where could Bonner end up? Las Vegas Aces are a great fit, but Yahoo Sports' Nekias Duncan noted that they face tight cap room, limited roster spots, and roster constraints. It would likely take them out of contention.

From that logic, Sports Illustrated's Grant Young predicted three primary contenders for Bonner.

Atlanta stands out as a clear frontrunner. The Dream hold $190,663 in cap space. They are firmly in title contention. And they need a defensive wing to complement Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, and Angel Reese.

Young also noted the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty as possible landing spots for Bonner, though Minnesota would need to clear cap space and New York holds $129,904 in cap space.

No matter which jersey she puts on next, Bonner will be a valuable addition for any contending team. This season, she averaged 10.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.2 steals while starting 26 of 37 games for Phoenix.

Written by

Md Saife Fida