Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner prepares for potential final season

But the 16-year WNBA veteran persisted.

Her midseason signing in 2025 came off a controversial stint with the Indiana Fever that made her question a return to the game. After taking some time to be with her children, Bonner rejoined the organization that drafted her in 2009, along with reuniting with her teammate and fiancée, Alyssa Thomas.

“It’s love. It’s home. It’s peace. It’s comfort for my family, my kids,” Bonner said, “Just happy to be back from the beginning this year, and see what we can do.”

The uncertainty of the 2026 season threatened Bonner’s return, but the new CBA and productive offseason gave way to what could be her swan song in Phoenix.

Bonner, who turns 39 on Aug. 21, touched on her career plans during the past postseason, stating that the 2026 season would likely be her last because she’s “not going to 40 and still playing after that.”

The past season took a toll on Bonner’s mental health as she dealt with online attacks surrounding her time with the Fever. After the Mercury’s loss in the 2025 WNBA Finals in October, she took some time away from basketball, spending time with her children and diving into other passions, including modeling.

Her mental health is now “great,” she says, and her physical health looked good in the first two days of training camp as she's worked on her 3-point shooting.

Establishing a home base in Phoenix has helped Bonner feel more grounded, and she’s looking at her 17th season through a different lens.

“I’m always trying to get better. I’m a late bloomer, so I kind of play my best basketball late season,” Bonner said. “I just keep getting better and better and keep trying to learn and try to keep up. I feel like I can hold my own.

"I have nothing to prove, so I just go out there and do the things that kept me in there for 16 years. I’m just happy to be here.”

Bonner became accustomed to winning throughout her career, earning two championships with the Mercury in 2009 and 2014, and building an impressive run with the Connecticut Sun that included one Finals appearance and five semifinal appearances.

In Connecticut, she developed strong chemistry with Thomas, which later turned into an engagement. Current players such as Azzi Fudd have been questioned about their personal relationships affecting their on-court dynamics, but Bonner knows from experience that the two dynamics can be separate.

“I feel my personal relationship is my personal relationship. AT and I have been doing this for a long time," Bonner said. "I feel like we know how to handle things. We handle business when it’s business, and we have our relationship. Obviously, it worked.

"We’ve been playing together for eight or nine years now. I just feel like it’s personal preference and whatever that people feel like they need to do in their relationship to keep it going, that’s what they do. And we do what we do.”

Bonner’s presence and knowledge have inspired other players, especially younger players. Four-year guard Kiana Williams doesn’t tease Bonner about her age and instead respects what she’s done.

“She takes great care of her body,” Williams said. “It’s a blessing to be out here at that age. I’m out here watching what she’s doing because hopefully I can be playing that long one day. She’s in great shape, and she looks like it’s Year 2 out here.

"She’s fresh and she’s talking. It’s nice having that vet because she’s been here and she’s done that. If this is her last year, we want to make it a great one.”