Uncertainty reigns over DeWanna Bonner’s status with the Indiana Fever, with the six-time WNBA All-Star set to miss her fourth game in succession due to personal reasons
DeWanna Bonner has been absent for the past three Indiana Fever games(Image: Joe Boatman/NBAE via Getty Images)
Indiana Fever fans’ concern for DeWanna Bonner is growing after she missed her third consecutive game due to personal reasons on Thursday.
The two-time WNBA champion and six-time All-Star has become a pivotal part of the Fever’s rotation in her first season with the team after following head coach Stephanie White from the Connecticut Sun in the offseason.
But she was absent once again as Caitlin Clark and the Fever fell to 6-6 on the season with an 88-77 defeat on the road at the Golden State Valkyries. Bonner has been away from the team since the victory over the New York Liberty on June 14, and her absence coincides with White’s own leave of absence due to personal reasons. Assistant Mike Kelly has been filling in during White’s absence.
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Before stepping back from her duties, White has said that Bonner’s status is “purely day to day. Meanwhile, at the start of the small forward’s time away from the team, the head coach told reporters: “I think she’s doing as well as she can be right now.
“We’re going to continue to support her and give her the time that she needs. I don’t anticipate her being here [for the win over the Liberty], and just with her right now, it’s supporting her and giving her what she needs.”
The 37-year-old’s continued absence and the lack of clarity over the cause have prompted concern among Fever fans, who have taken to social media to send their best wishes to the former Phoenix Mercury standout.
“Really hope DeWanna Bonner and her loved ones are OK. Prayers up. Nothing but love from Fever fam,” one fan wrote, while another added: “OK, what is happening?? I hope everything is OK with DB.”
Head coach Stephanie White is also absent due to personal reasons(Image: Getty)
A third said: “It’s sad that both Coach White and DeWanna Bonner have to be dealing with serious personal issues at the same time, but at least we know we’ll be in good hands with Coach Kelly. Hoping the best for Stephanie and DeWanna!”
Fifteen-year veteran Bonner is averaging 7.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game for the Fever, providing an invaluable senior presence in the rotation. The Fever are 2-1 since she stepped away from the team.
Both Bonner and White are expected to be absent for Sunday’s road trip to face A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces (5-7), heaping more pressure on Clark and her teammates to muster a performance to get the team back above .500.
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Clark was in impressive form in her first two games back from a quad injury, putting up 32 and 20 points in the wins over the Liberty and Sun, respectively. She accumulated only 11 points in the loss to the Valkyries, though, and she was deeply disappointed after her team gave up a double-digit lead.
“I think we get these leads, we get up 10, we get up 12, and I thought that’s where we really grew versus [the Sun], we really took a step forward and kept our foot on the gas and built out our lead and got it up to 20.
“I thought we were kind of in the phase of not [giving up those leads] anymore. And then we got our lead to 12 [against the Valkyries], and then we kind of go on a stretch of turning the ball over. We have got to be able to grow in that area.”