The Phoenix Mercury agreed to a buyout with DeWanna Bonner in August so she could sign with a contender in what could be her final season in the WNBA. Bonner then decided to join Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream.
Now, less than two months later, Bonner is back in the WNBA Finals with Atlanta. The Dream swept both the Washington Mystics and the New York Liberty in the first two rounds of the playoffs, respectively, setting up a showdown with the Golden State Valkyries in the championship series.
Bonner has certainly been a crucial part of that run. In five games in the playoffs so far, she has averaged 13.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 steal per game. In the Dream’s Game 1 win against the Liberty, she recorded 23 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals to lead the team to a 92-82 victory.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
According to Reese, however, Bonner has made an enormous impact on the Dream beyond her on-court production. She has been an incredible leader for the team, regularly reminding her teammates that their job is not yet done.
“She’s great. She keeps us humble,” Reese said when asked about Bonner, via Atlanta reporter Reggie Chatman Jr.
“She actually tells us, like, ‘This is not enough.’ We were happy, obviously, going to the finals. She was like, ‘This is not enough.’ She’s been swept before, and she knows what that feels like. So, she wants to make sure we’re ready.”
Bonner is a well-respected veteran who has won two WNBA championships. Clearly, she’s using her voice and experience to guide the Dream in their quest for their first WNBA title in franchise history.
To recall, after the Dream swept the Mystics in the first round, she stopped Reese and Allisha Gray from provoking the Washington fans. She knew very well that they had yet to prove anything.
Sure enough, as Reese highlighted, Bonner’s presence has had a positive impact. She has helped the Dream stay focused on their ultimate goal and avoid unnecessary distractions along the way.
