The Indiana Fever have been pretty active this offseason, making several key signings ever since WNBA free agency officially started. More recently, the team added former Connecticut Sun star DeWanna Bonner to the roster.
Bonner joined the Fever on a one-year deal. She spent the last five seasons with the Sun, where she averaged 15.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game. The 37-year-old also had three All-Star selections as a member of the Connecticut franchise.
Overall in her career, Bonner is a six-time All-Star. She’s also a two-time WNBA champion, winning the title as a member of the Phoenix Mercury in 2009 and 2014.
Bonner was officially introduced as a member of the Fever on Monday, during which she commented about her new Indiana teammates.
However, when the Fever took a part of Bonner’s statement and posted it on social media, it sparked a wave of negative reactions. The WNBA veteran was commenting about Kelsey Mitchell, Lexie Hull and Aliyah Boston, leading fans to believe that she was snubbing Caitlin Clark.
“Playing with Kelsey [Mitchell] and Lexie Hull and [Aliyah Boston], it’s just going to be easy to score,” Bonner said in the quote posted by the Fever.
“Yeah was stoked she’s came here. But by leaving CC out that statement she can pound salt and leave,” a critic wrote, believing Bonner left out Clark in her statement. Another one said, “Ummn already hating on CC not good.”
“I don’t like she didn’t mention CC she shouldn’t have named nobody,” a fan added.
A Fever faithful further stated, “Still salty about CC…she won’t last long here.”
“CC is the most important one to help you score…none of the other Will,” a social media user added.
“Mentions everyone except CC.. so clear she doesn’t like her,” another poster commented.
© Mark Smith-Imagn Images
Several other Fever fans, however, were quick to defend DeWanna Bonner and emphasize that what the team posted was not the entirety of what she said. Bonner actually praised Clark in the same press conference and expressed her hope to pass some of her knowledge to the young sharpshooter.
“I couldn’t be more excited to step on the floor with Caitlin,” Bonner said of Clark. “I hope that I can give her some knowledge and take her game to a bigger level, so when I retire, she can pass that along to other players.”
The 2025 WNBA season officially kicks off on May 16. Bonner, Clark and the Fever are scheduled to play their first official game of the campaign on May 17 against the Chicago Sky.
