Sparks Hover as Outside Contender in DeWanna Bonner Free Agency Drama Amid Fever Exit
Star forward DeWanna Bonner announced that she has no interest in returning to play for the Fever, with preferred landing spots of Phoenix and Atlanta, per Annie Costabile.
Read more: Sparks' Cameron Brink and Sue Bird Argue Controversial WNBA Roster Rule
The news comes just months after the six-time WNBA All-Star signed with the Fever in early February.
"I’m extremely thankful to be joining an organization that’s on the rise and committed to growing the sport of women’s basketball. I’m looking forward to coming in, sharing my leadership and knowledge, and doing my part to help get this team get back to its championship pedigree,” Bonner said in the release.
BREAKING: DeWanna Bonner has no interest in returning to play for the Fever, per @AnnieCostabile.
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) June 24, 2025
Sources indicated Bonner’s preferred landing spots are with the Phoenix Mercury or the Atlanta Dream. pic.twitter.com/o9JFX3nNRK
She entered Indiana ranked third-highest in scoring among active players with over 7,400 career points. Now in her 16th WNBA season, Bonner averaged over seven points and three rebounds in nine games with the Fever.
Prior to landing in Indiana, Bonner spent five seasons with the Connecticut Sun under now-Indiana head coach Stephanie White.
Read more: Sparks' Owner Mark Walter Acquires Majority Ownership of Lakers From Buss Family
Despite Bonner's preferred destinations being the Mercury and Dream, the Los Angeles Sparks are positioned as an outside contender for the two-time WNBA champion.
Los Angeles, fresh off its third consecutive loss, remains shorthanded with limited offensive production amid an injured rotation.
KP kept the pressure on.
— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) June 22, 2025
15 PTS | 4 AST | 3 REB pic.twitter.com/ef1dY9e9tB
Both Kelsey Plum and Rickea Jackson have put together stellar individual starts to the 2025 campaign.
Plum became the only WNBA guard to rank within the top-10 in points, assists and steals throughout the first month of the 2025 season, per a June 16 X post. Plum is currently averaging over 20 points, five assists and one steal in high-volume minutes for the purple and gold.
Read more: Sparks Announce Major Kelsey Plum Injury News Before Crucial Matchup
Jackson poured in a career-high 30 points on 11 made field goals just weeks ago against Las Vegas. The second-year forward remains a key cornerstone of the Sparks' frontcourt.
But the Sparks are still searching for sustained team success. Adding yet another main scoring presence with All-Star level talent in Bonner could boost Los Angeles in the right direction for the future.
More Sparks news:
A'ja Wilson Speaks Out on Losing Kelsey Plum to Sparks
Sparks' Kelsey Plum Reacts to Georgia Amoore's ACL Injury
International Legend Reveals Reason For Rejoining LA
Sparks Waive Two Players Ahead of 2025 Season
Sparks’ Cameron Brink Revisits Feeling After Tearing ACL
For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Sparks, visit Los Angeles Sparks on SI.
Ben Geffner is an award-winning sports journalist and current student at the University of Maryland's Philip Merrill College of Journalism. A greater Los Angeles native now with countless years of extensive and dedicated experience — including beat reporting, writing, play-by-play broadcast, television anchoring, podcasting and video production — Ben remains eager to contribute as credentialed media covering the LA Sparks.
Follow BenGeffner