DeWanna Bonner and the Glass Slipper Dilemma: Will Phoenix Fit or Fracture Her Fairytale Ending?

An illustration of Dewanna Bonner sitting in a chair trying on a glass slipper with three other sneaker variations to the side.

After a brief and underwhelming stay with the Indiana Fever, DeWanna Bonner is back on the market. With murmurs swirling about a potential reunion with the Phoenix Mercury, it’s easy to view the move as a Cinderella homecoming. But in reality, Phoenix may already have their glass slipper and the question isn’t just if Bonner fits, but whether trying her on could throw off the team’s carefully balanced stride.

Phoenix Is Clicking Even Without All Its Firepower

At 11–4, the Phoenix Mercury are on a 5 game winning streak and are showing signs of a team not just finding its identity, but thriving in it. While Kahleah Copper is still regaining full form after an early-season injury, the Mercury’s offense has found stability in their off season acquisitions:

• Satou Sabally has emerged as the centerpiece, leading the team in scoring 8 times across their 15 games.

• Alyssa Thomas continues to be the engine—racking up double-digit assist games like clockwork and dominating the glass.

• Monique Akoa Makani and Sami Whitcomb have become invaluable X-factors, giving Phoenix reliable production on both ends in clutch moments.

Lexi Held, Kathryn Westbeld, and even Kalani Brown have all played critical, unglamorous roles that don’t always show up in highlight reels, but do matter in win columns.

Dewanna Bonner shoots a free throw in the Indiana Fever blue away jersey.

Bonner’s Resume vs. Reality

There’s no denying DeWanna Bonner’s pedigree. She’s a 6-time All-Star, 2-time champion, and one of the league’s top three scorers all-time. But her recent numbers tell a different story. In 9 games with Indiana this season, she averaged just 7.1 points and was removed from the starting lineup after just three games.

It's not about whether Bonner is better than Kathryn Westbeld or Natasha Mack. Individually, she is. But in a team ecosystem that’s flowing, the wrong addition, even a great one, can cause things to unravel.

Just look at Las Vegas: a team with MVPs and champions across the board, yet they’ve found themselves struggling to score. Why? Too many stars, not enough rhythm.

The Balance Beam of Chemistry

Phoenix is succeeding because of defined roles, selfless ball movement, and a balance of power that gives each player room to operate. Add another high-usage forward like Bonner into the mix, and someone else’s touches have to shrink and it’s likely Copper, Sabally, or Whitcomb.

Would Bonner accept a reduced role? Would she be used primarily as a floor spacer and secondary creator? And most importantly, can she blend into a team that doesn’t need a savior, just steady support?

The Cinderella Conundrum

Bonner sees Phoenix as her fairytale ending. It’s the place where she once won rings. She would once again play with her fiancée (Alyssa Thomas), and possibly close the chapter of a decorated legacy. But fairytales don’t always play out like the books. Sometimes, the slipper doesn’t fit anymore, but because the castle has already found its queen.

Right now, Sabally is that queen. She’s the focal point. Thomas is the steward. The rest of the Mercury have bought in, forming a modern-day ensemble cast of Cinderella’s helpers, each playing their role to perfection.

The Bottom Line

Adding Bonner would give Phoenix another weapon, but potentially at the cost of the very formula that’s working. The Mercury may be one of the rare teams in WNBA history that has depth, grit, and just the right sprinkle of stardom without tipping the balance.

For Bonner, a return might feel like destiny. But for Phoenix, it might feel like forcing a foot into a slipper that no longer belongs. The fairytale might not need a new chapter. It might already be living its happily ever after.