DeWanna Bonner scored a season-high 21 points Sunday as the Phoenix Mercury beat the Connecticut Sun, 72-63 despite a late-game effort from Brittney Griner. The Sun vs Mercury matchup snapped a five-game losing streak for Phoenix (9-18) and avenged Friday's loss to Connecticut.
DeWanna Bonner, Kahleah Copper Fuel Phoenix Scoring
Kahleah Copper added 18 points, scoring 12 of them in the second half. Together, Bonner and Copper anchored the offense while the defense turned 21 Connecticut turnovers into 22 points.
Still, the Sun nearly erased the deficit late.
Charlisse Leger-Walker completed a 3-point play with 4:42 remaining to trim the Mercury lead to 63-62. But Phoenix responded immediately. Copper drove for a layup, and Bonner added key baskets down the stretch as the Mercury pulled away on a 9-1 run to close the game.
Brittney Griner Leads Late-Game Sun vs Mercury Surge
On the other end, Brittney Griner led Connecticut (7-19) with 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting. She also had five rebounds and two blocks on the night.
Center Olivia Nelson-Ododa recorded a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. But the Sun's season-high 21 turnovers ultimately derailed their comeback effort.
Both teams return to action Wednesday as the Sun visit Indiana while the Mercury travel to Los Angeles.
DeWanna Bonner became the third player in WNBA history to score 8,000 career points during the Phoenix Mercury's July 7 game against the Chicago Sky. Only Diana Taurasi and Tina Charles had reached the mark before her.
In the same game, Bonner also became the first player to combine 8,000 points, 3,000 rebounds, and 500 steals.
DeWanna Bonner Reflects on Sacrifices Behind WNBA Record
Days after hitting those marks, Bonner shared an emotional reflection on Instagram. "8,000 points is the headline. The real story is everything it takes to get here," she wrote. "The sacrifices. The adversity. The joyful reminders in between."
Her twin daughters were in the stands for this one, too, something Bonner said rarely happens for her milestones, making it all the more special. "For them to be here for that was just huge," she said.
Still, Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts pointed to what the numbers don't show. He called Bonner the "ultimate professional" who sets the standard for the organization.
At 38, the two-time WNBA champion and 17-year veteran continues to add to build a legacy that few in league history can match.
The WNBA is taking center stage, as ESPN announced plans to debut Life in the W during All-Star Weekend’s 30th anniversary.
Backed by Uninterrupted and Cookie Jar & A Dream Studios, the six-part docuseries frames league favorites A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, and DeWanna Bonner as a reigning superstar, a future-shaping leader, and a veteran icon.
“A lot of people see what we do on the court, but this is a chance to show everything that comes with it: the work, the sacrifice, the joy, and the sisterhood,” said Wilson.
“I’m so proud to be part of this project and allow viewers to connect with who we are beyond basketball.”
Life in the W premieres July 24th at 10 PM ET on ESPN2.
Caitlin Clark and DeWanna Bonner got into a heated altercation during the fourth quarter of the Indiana Fever's 86-77 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Monday night. The two tangled on a physical possession with seven minutes left as officials hit Clark with her fifth technical foul of the season.
Tensions Boil Over Between Indiana Fever and Phoenix Mercury
Things quickly spiraled after the play.
Fever guard Sophie Cunningham stepped to the veteran Mercury forward, and both former teammates received double technical fouls. Indiana forward Myisha Hines-Allen then shoved Bonner and was ejected after earning a second technical. The chaos stretched the fourth quarter to 44 minutes.
Despite the foul frenzy, Clark still finished with 24 points and nine assists to lead the Fever to the win. However, the fallout extends beyond the box score.
Caitlin Clark Nears WNBA Suspension After 5th Technical Foul
Under the WNBA's updated fine structure for 2026, Clark's fifth technical carries a $1,000 penalty.
The escalating system, introduced under the league's new CBA, jumps to $1,500 per technical starting at eight. That eighth tech also triggers an automatic one-game suspension, with every other technical after that adding yet another missed game.
Clark now sits three technicals away from that threshold. After the game, she made clear she thought the call was absurd.
"It's ridiculous, I got a technical for clapping," she told reporters. "We should all just go on the calendar now and pick a game I'm going to be suspended for if I'm going to get technicals for clapping."
The Fever and Mercury meet again Wednesday at 7:30 PM ET, live on USA Network.
Veteran forward DeWanna Bonner is using the WNBA preseason to build momentum with Phoenix Mercury rookies, as the franchise tips off training camp following last season's WNBA Finals run.
Bonner drew attention both for her form and leadership, embracing the energy surrounding the reshaped Phoenix Mercury roster. Her return to Phoenix remains one of the notable storylines entering the 2026 season.
Speaking from training camp, Bonner pointed to the group's early chemistry as young players start to enter mix.
"They’ve been great, they’ve been about their business. They’ve been real professional," Bonner said of the Mercury rookies. "It’s always great to have new energy in the building.”
Recalling her own transition to the WNBA, Bonner talked about wanting to support players through that adjustment.
“I always check on them and make sure they’re having a good time,” she said. “Always well taken care of. I just remember being a rookie myself. It’s scary.”
At 38, the six-time All-Star brings experience to a lineup looking to build off its 2025 WNBA Finals run. Phoenix retained much of its veteran core in free agency, subsequently reinforcing continuity ahead of training camp.
The WNBA preseason offers an early glimpse at how that group may come together.
For Bonner, her 17th season marks another chapter in a career that continues to evolve. A two-time WNBA champion and one of the league's all-time leading scorers, she's expected to play a major role in Phoenix's frontcourt.
How to Watch DeWanna Bonner in 2026 WNBA Preseason Games
The Mercury tips off its WNBA preseason schedule against the Chicago Sky on Saturday at 4 PM ET.
Fans can stream all the preseason action via WNBA League Pass.
The No. 4 Phoenix Mercury returned to Arizona on a mission this week, tipping off Game 3 of the 2025 WNBA Finals down 0-2 to the red-hot No. 2 Las Vegas Aces and in dire need of a bounce-back performance.
"We need to be better defensively," said Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts ahead of Wendesday night's clash. "We haven't done a good enough job getting stops."
"First and foremost, we gotta play better defense," echoed forward Alyssa Thomas. "Still a lot of confidence here. We just know we have a lot of room to improve."
A 0-2 deficit has historically spelled disaster in the WNBA's previous five-game championship series, but this year's first-ever best-of-seven format gives postseason underdogs like Phoenix a bit more cushion.
"There's no panic, no pressure," said Thomas. "That's the beauty of a seven-game series. If we're sitting at five games, it's basically elimination."
"We've got two games here to do what we need to do, two guaranteed games here," added veteran forward DeWanna Bonner.
As for Las Vegas, the Aces will also be on their game, looking to avoid a slow-down in momentum on the road.
"It's going to be a different environment playing at their place, but we have to stick together, stay within ourselves, and just continue playing Aces basketball," Las Vegas guard Jewell Loyd told reporters.
How to watch Game 3 of the 2025 WNBA Finals
The No. 4 Phoenix Mercury will hunt their first victory in the 2025 WNBA Finals on home court when they host the No. 2 Las Vegas Aces for Game 3 at 8 PM ET on Wednesday.
Live coverage of the clash will air on ESPN.
The defending champions failed to clinch a first-round sweep in the 2025 WNBA Playoffs on Wednesday night, when the No. 5 New York Liberty fell hard on their home Barclays court as the No. 4 Phoenix Mercury took an 86-60 Game 2 victory to force a winner-take-all Game 3.
Mercury starting forwards Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally combined for 30 points in the win, with midseason veteran signing DeWanna Bonner adding another 14 points off the bench.
"The hope is when you get to the playoffs, you level up," said Phoenix head coach Nate Tibbetts. "I think we've done that."
New York's title defense took a hit well before tip-off, with injured forward Breanna Stewart playing just 20 minutes and limiting the offense's ability to execute.
"They came in and they embarrassed us on our home court," Stewart — who picked up an MCL sprain in Sunday's Game 1 win — said afterwards. "Now we have to go back there for Game 3, winner take all."
How to watch the New York Liberty vs. Phoenix Mercury in Game 3
It's win-or-go-home for both the No. 5 New York Liberty and No. 4 Phoenix Mercury, who will head back to Arizona to put their seasons on the line in Game 3 of the playoffs on Friday.
The high-stakes matchup will tip off at 9 PM ET, with live coverage on ESPN2.
The best and brightest of the 2025 WNBA season have just one week left to pad their resumes ahead of the league's end-of-year awards — and the MVP race is tighter than ever.
Unanimous 2024 MVP A'ja Wilson has emerged as the season's hottest hand post-All-Star break, with the No. 3 Las Vegas Aces powerhouse facing competition from No. 1 Minnesota Lynx standout Napheesa Collier and No. 4 Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas.
Posting a near-50-40-90 efficiency through the first half of 2025, Collier appeared to be the consensus WNBA MVP frontrunner, but Wilson gained speed in the race after the Lynx leader suffered an early-August ankle injury.
With Collier on the bench, Wilson outpaced the Lynx star to top the WNBA in both points (23.8) and blocks per game (2.2) while sitting second in average rebounds (10.1).
Wilson also owns this season's head-to-head advantage, scoring 31 points to Collier's 12 in Las Vegas' 97-87 victory over Minnesota last week.
Thomas is also making history this year, leading the WNBA in assists per game (9.2) while extending her league-record career triple-double tally to 18 by posting a single-season record of seven on the season so far.
"She's going to rebound, she's going to dish, she's going to score, she's going to defend. I think that's the definition of MVP," Phoenix veteran DeWanna Bonner said about Thomas this week.
How to watch the 2025 WNBA MVP frontrunners on Tuesday
Wilson, Collier, and Thomas will all put a stamp on their seasons this week, hitting Tuesday's court before wrapping up the 2025 WNBA regular-season on Thursday.
Collier and the No. 1 Lynx will contend with the No. 7 Indiana Fever at 7:30 PM ET on Tuesday, with live coverage airing on ESPN.
Both Wilson's No. 3 Aces and Thomas's No. 4 Mercury will be in action at 10 PM ET, as Las Vegas takes on the No. 12 Chicago Sky on WNBA League Pass while Phoenix faces the No. 9 LA Sparks, airing live on NBA TV.
Time has run out for Caitlin Clark to return from her lingering groin injury, with the Indiana Fever guard announcing via social media this week that she will officially sit out the rest of the 2025 WNBA season in hopes of making a healthy start in 2026.
"I spent hours in the gym every day with the singular goal of getting back out there, disappointed isn't a big enough word to describe how I am feeling," Clark said in her Thursday post.
"Caitlin has worked so hard throughout this time, doing everything possible to recover and return to the court but, ultimately, time is not on our side," Fever COO and GM Amber Cox said in a team statement. "Her long-term health and well-being remains our top priority."
Clark featured in just 13 games for the Indiana Fever this year, averaging 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, and five rebounds per game on the season while also earning a nod as a 2025 WNBA All-Star Game captain.
Following a season of shooting slumps and soft tissue knocks, the Indiana standout has watched the No. 8 Fever's championship hopes dwindle under the weight of additional roster shifts.
Veteran offseason signing DeWanna Bonner jumped ship midseason to join the No. 4 Phoenix Mercury, while guards Sydney Colson, Aari McDonald, and Sophie Cunningham all went down with season-ending injuries alongside forward Chloe Bibby.
"This has been incredibly frustrating, but even in the bad, there is good. The way the fans continued to show up for me, and for the Fever, brought me so much joy and important perspective," Clark wrote. "I am so proud of how this team has only gotten stronger through adversity this year."
"Now it's time to close out the season and claim our spot in the Playoffs," Clark added.
How to watch the Indiana Fever this weekend
Despite the setback, No. 8 Indiana still has a clear path to punching a postseason ticket, starting with a Friday matchup against the No. 11 Chicago Sky. The game will tip off at 7:30 PM ET, with live coverage on ION.
Then on Sunday, the Fever will take on the No. 10 Washington Mystics in their penultimate game of the 2025 season, airing live at 3 PM ET on NBA TV.
The No. 1 Minnesota Lynx couldn't be stopped in their second straight game in the Windy City on Monday, answering their Saturday loss to Chicago with a 91-78 victory over the No. 10 Sky.
Despite a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double from Chicago forward Angel Reese — her ninth in a row — Minnesota prevailed behind double-digit performances from four Lynx starters, including a game-leading 29 points from 2025 MVP candidate Napheesa Collier.
Notably, Monday's win comes as the Lynx look to close a grueling stretch of schedule before the 2025 WNBA All-Star break.
Beginning with the July 1st Commissioner's Cup final, Minnesota has contested eight games — including two sets of back-to-back matchups — in the last two weeks alone.
"We're in the midst of one of the most illogical schedules in my 25 years of doing this," Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve said this week. "Four out of five games at noon, two back-to-backs in there. It's illogical."
Considering the league leaders booked two of their four season losses in that stretch — last Wednesday's loss to the No. 2 Phoenix Mercury plus Saturday's stumble against the Sky — the jam-packed schedule raises questions about the subsequent fatigue and its impact.
Minnesota's not done yet, as they'll face Phoenix again on Wednesday — Minnesota's ninth game in 16 days.
Despite holding a three-game advantage over the Mercury, the Lynx will need to maintain Monday's momentum to keep pace, as Phoenix also started the week in the win column.
The Mercury took down the No. 8 Golden State Valkyries 78-77 on Monday, with new signee DeWanna Bonner playing difference-maker with a game-leading 22-point, 11-rebound performance off the bench in the tightly contested matchup.
How to watch the Phoenix Mercury vs. Minnesota Lynx this week
In their last game before the 2025 WNBA All-Star break, Minnesota will try to avenge their recent loss to Phoenix when the No. 1 Lynx host the No. 2 Mercury at 1 PM ET on Wednesday.
Live coverage of the game will air on WNBA League Pass.