DeWanna Bonner’s Enduring Legacy | legacy

Bonner can also be seven factors away from passing Tina Thompson on the all-time main scorer listing, which might transfer her into third all-time and three rebounds away from eighth in WNBA history. She presently has 7,482 whole profession factors within the WNBA — common season solely. (In the playoffs, it’s one other 1101 factors and counting.)

“In a lot of ways she’s been an incredibly consistent player, but she’s a really good leader,” Bonner’s coach, Stephanie White, mentioned earlier this month. “She is somebody who has been in a number of conditions in her profession, so far as her position. She’s been on championship-caliber groups. She understands what it takes to win…And she’s an incredible calming affect and cheap voice for us within the huddles and within the locker room, her teammates respect her.

“For me it’s great to have somebody like that because she is like a coach on the floor. She’s got great perspective and you trust what she’s saying and then to be able to come to us and tell us how they’re feeling. You know, what are they looking for, different options that we could maybe look for.”

Bonner’s legacy goes all the way in which again to 2009, when she was drafted fifth total to the Phoenix Mercury. She would spend 10 years of her profession there and grow to be a two-time WNBA champion with the franchise [2009 and 2014].

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Bonner has been enjoying for the Connecticut Sun franchise for the previous 4 years, the place she discovered herself within the beginning lineup instantly. She might be the most important commerce deal that Connecticut has landed in franchise historical past. She made an instantaneous impression on the staff and ranked third within the league for factors in 2020. In the primary three video games in a Sun uniform, Bonner scored 82 factors. That set a brand new WNBA document for factors scored within the first three video games with a brand new staff.

Bonner is a five-time WNBA All-star (2015, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2023) and has earned sixth participant of the 12 months honors 3 times (2009, 2010 and 2011).

When requested concerning the feelings she has had about reaching 500 profession video games, Bonner instructed The Next, “I didn’t know that until you just said that, but that’s pretty cool. I’m blessed to be able to play that many games in this league. Happy to be here and happy to still be playing.”

Bonner embodies the league

Bonner isn’t at all times a participant folks consider when they consider WNBA legends, however her stats have proved the impression she has made on the league.

Alyssa Thomas, Bonner’s fiancé and Connecticut Sun ahead, gave reward to all that she has overcome and completed all through her profession.

“I think it’s an underrated legacy. She’s somebody that’s not talked about a lot. I mean, she has a chance to be top three all time in scoring and I mean, that’s kind of unheard of and unreal but we appreciate everything she does here, and we know what she’s capable of,” Thomas instructed The Next.

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Bonner discovered from different veteran gamers within the league, which has allowed her recreation to flourish comparatively rapidly behind their steerage. 

“I learned from the best, I had the blueprint of Diana. She’s been in this league and been great a long time, so I just had that. And following her footsteps and her path which is pretty cool,” Bonner mentioned. And so far as her accomplishments, she accredits them to arduous work and self-discipline. “Working in the off season, perfecting my craft, getting better and better and adding things to my game and staying healthy,” she instructed The Next about how she improves her recreation.

Bonner has left a mark

Bonner’s legacy has impacted youthful generations of gamers, together with her present teammate Sun ahead Olivia Nelson-Ododa. Nelson-Ododa has regarded as much as Bonner all through the years and has discovered from her management.

“I mean, it’s crazy. I remember coming to some of the Connecticut Sun games when I was in college, and watching her play, and then, I end up here,” Nelson-Ododa instructed The Next. “So, it’s kind of like a full circle moment for me in terms of just watching her and other players and just studying their game, and really being able to pay attention to that and actually being able to share the floor with them.”

Her management has been an vital issue for the present Sun staff and her expertise offers rather a lot depth.

“Just talking with her, being able to pick her brain about different things, different things that she’s been through playing basketball in this league for so long. And I think that’s just such valuable things to have, especially for a player like myself,” Nelson-Ododa mentioned.

It’s reward echoed by her head coach.

“I just appreciate her so much,” White mentioned. “It’s been incredible to continue to watch her journey and this I say reemergence but maybe even new found confidence. But I think it’s a tribute to her teammates to being able to get her the ball in positions to be successful and a contribute to her work, to be able to play at such a consistent level for such a long time.”

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