From big buckets to a big voice, DeWanna Bonner is the Atlanta Dream’s X-factor in the chase for their first-ever WNBA title.
The Dream have made the playoffs four years in a row, but they are currently matched up against the New York Liberty in their first semifinals appearance since 2018. Atlanta, which hasn’t advanced to the WNBA Finals since 2013, is the closest it has ever been to breaking that streak.
Before this season began, the hype surrounding the Dream had never been higher. They managed to re-sign all their core players—Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, Naz Hillmon, Brionna Jones, and Jordin Canada—despite a chaotic and historic WNBA free agency. Shortly after, the potential really turned up when the news dropped that Atlanta had traded for superstar Angel Reese.
Early on, Atlanta was at the top of the title-contenders conversation. Even with some bumps in the regular-season road, including a five-game losing streak in late June, the Dream’s trajectory never wavered—in fact, it’s only trended upward.
In late August, Atlanta took a big swing—making it very clear that it was going for it all this season. The Dream signed six-time WNBA All-Star DeWanna Bonner, who agreed to a contract buyout with the Phoenix Mercury so she could pursue a title. This decision allowed her to sign with a new team as a free agent just in time for a playoff run.
Before her move to Atlanta, Bonner was averaging just over 10 points and six rebounds per game with the Mercury, and fans were skeptical as to just how much this addition would move the Dream’s needle.
But it’s become clear that Atlanta knew exactly what it was doing.
Championship Pedigree
Bonner is the second-oldest player in the league and has played through 17 WNBA seasons—the most of any active player. But let’s take a look at exactly what made Atlanta so keen on adding her to its playoff arsenal.
Game 1 of the Dream’s semifinals series against the Liberty was the 101st WNBA playoff game Bonner has played in. So far, in her 17 seasons, she’s made the playoffs 15 times, played in 37 series, and has an overall record of 53-48.
Additionally, Bonner is a two-time WNBA champion, both with the Phoenix Mercury in 2009 and 2014.
In her 101 playoff appearances, she has put up at least 15 points in 42 of them. She thrives in big moments, but even more importantly, she’s been here before. There’s no one more experienced in halftime pep talks, providing an instant spark off the bench, keeping their composure, or making the most of the brightest lights.
Exactly What ‘The A’ Needed
That ‘spark off the bench’ might be exactly why Atlanta brought Bonner in—and the payoff has been both instantaneous and has exceeded expectations. While Bonner is the most seasoned player, she’s also the ultimate sixth woman. She won the Sixth Player of the Year award in each of her first three seasons in the league—setting a league record that remains to this day.
Bonner spent 2013-24 as a consistent starter for her respective teams, and rightfully so. She came off the bench during the 2025 season, but was a steady starter to begin this season with Phoenix. Many consider Bonner heading back to the bench in Atlanta a return to her roots—exactly where she thrives.
Since Bonner joined the Dream, the team has not lost a game. They finished out the regular season strong, but most importantly, have started the playoffs on the ultimate right foot. Now, of course, there’s some major credit owed to players like Howard, Gray, Canada and Reese, but they’ll also be the first ones to emphasize the inimitable impact Bonner has brought to this squad.
Atlanta took an early lead in the first-round series versus Washington—a game in which Bonner quickly proved the Dream correct in their decision to sign her. She recorded 13 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block.
“She’s the banana, the ice cream, she’s the whipped cream, the cherry…she’s all of that,” Howard said of her teammate after that game. “I already told her, we’re going to go where she goes…adding her is just something that they can’t stop.”
The Dream went on to sweep the Mystics in the first round, and are now facing a tough opponent in the semifinals—a New York team fresh off a series sweep over the No. 1 Minnesota Lynx. Both of these teams are hungry, but the Dream proved to be hungrier in Game 1.
Gray, the Dream’s leading scorer, went down with a finger injury early in Game 1, resulting in her exit right away in the semifinal series. With her on the sidelines for the rest of the game, the Dream could’ve been shaken up. But they hardly slipped out of gear, ultimately taking the 1-0 series lead—special thanks to Bonner.
Bonner put up 23 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals in the win, shooting over 55 percent from the field and draining three shots from beyond the arc. After the victory, Howard had more praise for the vet.
“I don’t think we win if we don’t have DB,” Howard said. As soon as she got here, I’ve been in her ear about taking lead of this team, showcasing her vet card… her Hall of Fame ability. Yeah, you might be coming to help us, but we’re also looking for you to lead the way… You’re going to show us how to do it, and we’re going to follow right behind.”
Bonner scoring 23 points in Gray’s absence, along with her length, size, and ability to take the ball away from opponents was incredible—and it’s got to be a key reason why she’s wearing Dream red right now. But let’s talk about that ‘taking lead of this team’ aspect that Howard mentioned.
We’ve already seen two massive examples of Bonner showing these young Dream players the way through these playoffs.
One came after the Washington sweep. After Atlanta claimed the victory in Game 2, Reese and Gray began to wave goodbye to the Mystics crowd. The next thing you know, Bonner is seen taking both of their hands, lowering them and walking with the two across the court—in a playful “okay, that’s enough” kind of way.
The next instance seemed to be a little less playful. The Dream were down by three against the Liberty as they headed into the second half of Game 1. In the postgame presser, a reporter asked Bonner and Canada if there was a message shared in the locker room that fueled the almost immediate second-half turnaround. The two players shared a smirk before Canada replied, “Yeah, DB got into us in the halftime, I’ll just say that.”
That’s veteran leadership, in both instances. It’s clear the Dream had a few different goals in mind by bringing Bonner into the locker room. For one, she adds unmatched aggressiveness, size, and scoring depth. But secondly, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that you truly cannot find anywhere else in this league.
So far, it has all panned out to be exactly what this team that’s in search of its first-ever title needed. And it’s clear that Bonner and the rest of the Atlanta roster are under the same belief right now: We are in your hands, and are willing to follow your lead as far as it’ll take us.
Bonner might oftentimes look like and bring the energy of a fresh-out-of-college rookie, but the truth is, this could be her last go-around in the playoffs. After the 2025 season, she told reporters, “We’ll see if after this (2025) season I want to continue to do it another year, but it definitely won’t be another year after that one. I can tell you that.”
If this is it for Bonner, we know how she’s hoping to close things off—with her fifth trip to the WNBA Finals and a third ring on her finger.
