Fever waive Bonner, who says fit 'didn't work'

The Indiana Fever person waived guard/forward DeWanna Bonner, 1 of their cardinal free-agent acquisitions successful the offseason, aft she had missed 5 games owed to what was termed idiosyncratic reasons.

The Fever person signed defender Aari McDonald, who was with the squad earlier connected an wounded hardship contract, for the remainder of the season.

"I privation to sincerely convey the Indiana Fever for the accidental to beryllium portion of the Fever franchise," Bonner said successful a quality release. "Despite our shared goals and excitement heading into the season, I felt the acceptable did not enactment retired and I admit the organization's willingness to assistance my petition to determination on, peculiarly astatine this constituent successful my career. I privation the Fever large occurrence arsenic they proceed to physique astir this dynamic radical of young players."

Bonner averaged successful treble figures scoring each of her 15 erstwhile seasons successful the WNBA and has been a full-time starter since 2012. She started conscionable 3 of the 9 Fever games she appeared successful and averaged 7.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists.

As she is adjacent the extremity of her vocation astatine property 37, Bonner didn't deliberation things would enactment retired the remainder of this play successful Indiana and contemplated retirement, sources told ESPN.

Bonner being waived volition let her to play for different squad this season. She has to wide a 48-hour play wherever different teams tin assertion her connected waivers for the remainder of the $200,000 wage she is owed by her one-year unprotected woody with the Fever. If nary squad does, Bonner is simply a escaped cause and tin motion for the seasoned minimum if needed to acceptable into the wage headdress of her preferred team.

Sources person indicated Phoenix, wherever Bonner began her vocation successful 2009 arsenic the No. 5 prime retired of Auburn and won 2 titles, is 1 of her preferred destinations. Bonner played her archetypal 10 years successful Phoenix and the past 5 successful Connecticut earlier signing with Indiana. She missed the 2017 play aft giving commencement to duplicate daughters.

The Fever revamped their roster this play astir No. 1 picks Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark, bringing successful veterans Bonner, Natasha Howard, Sophie Cunningham and Sydney Colson to springiness Indiana much experience. On paper, Bonner seemed a bully acceptable for what Indiana needed.

McDonald, the No. 3 prime successful the 2021 draught retired of Arizona, played her archetypal 3 seasons with Atlanta and past twelvemonth with Los Angeles. In 3 games with the Fever portion Clark was retired with a quad wounded this season, McDonald averaged 11.0 points, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals.

"I'm truthful excited to rejoin the Fever," McDonald, 26, said successful a statement. "Although my clip with the squad was brief, it instantly felt similar the spot to be. I'm grateful for the lukewarm invited from the coaches, teammates, and fans-and astir of all, I convey God for the unthinkable travel I'm on."

Fever wide manager Amber Cox said successful a statement, "From the infinitesimal she arrived successful Indy, Aari was a wide acceptable with the benignant and mentality we are gathering present with the Fever. Though lone present a fewer games, her interaction arsenic a playmaker and a defender was evident. We are precise excited to invited her backmost for the remainder of the season."