Bonner reportedly joins Atlanta Dream in bid for first franchise title
The 17-year veteran is set to team up with Angel Reese after a buyout from the Phoenix Mercury, adding veteran depth to a roster seeking its first championship.
DeWanna Bonner is reportedly signing with the Atlanta Dream for the remainder of the 2026 WNBA season and playoffs, according to multiple reports. The 17-year veteran, who began the campaign with the Phoenix Mercury, is chasing a title in what could be her final year in the league.
Bonner agreed to a buyout with the Mercury two days after the franchise was officially eliminated from the postseason on 22 August following a 99-89 loss to the Dream. Mercury general manager Nick U’ren noted that the team wanted to give Bonner the opportunity to end her career on a high note, given her long-standing relationship with the franchise. She cleared waivers on Wednesday evening, becoming a free agent.
The Dream, who hold a 25-13 record and sit fourth in the league standings, have already clinched a playoff berth. The addition of Bonner, a two-time WNBA champion, is expected to bolster a roster that has been impacted by injuries. Star forward Angel Reese is currently playing the best basketball of her career, having recently set single-game and season rebounding records.
Atlanta has reached the WNBA Finals three times in franchise history but remains without a championship. Bonner brings significant postseason experience, having missed the playoffs only once in her career. She ranks third in league history for career points and fifth for career rebounds, while also holding the record for most playoff games with 98 appearances.
The signing addresses a specific tactical need, as the Dream’s bench is averaging 17.2 points per game, the second-fewest in the league. The roster has been particularly thin without four-time All-Star Brionna Jones, who has not played since 13 August due to a left leg injury and has appeared in only five games this season.
Bonner’s salary is expected to be a prorated maximum contract worth approximately $116,000, per ESPN. The Dream’s next game is scheduled for Friday, 28 August, against the Portland Fire. The league will then pause for the FIBA Women’s World Cup from 31 August to 16 September, providing Bonner with additional time to acclimatise to the team’s system.
