DeWanna Bonner’s long and decorated WNBA career has reached an uncomfortable crossroads. At 39 years old, the veteran forward is posting some of the worst numbers of her professional life with the Phoenix Mercury, prompting open discussion that she should step away before the situation deteriorates further. Bonner is shooting just 35 percent from the field and an alarming 16 percent from three-point range this season. Her minutes have steadily decreased, she has not reached double figures in scoring in recent games, and she has been a significant negative in the plus-minus column during limited opportunities. The Mercury, who entered the year with legitimate championship aspirations, sit at 2-8 and appear headed for a long rebuild rather than contention.
The contrast with Bonner’s recent past is stark. Last season with the Indiana Fever, even in a limited role, she looked like a far more effective version of herself. Her efficiency was markedly better, her decision-making sharper, and her overall impact more positive despite playing fewer games. The version of Bonner currently wearing a Mercury uniform bears little resemblance to the player who helped Indiana stay competitive in stretches last year. That disparity has fueled the narrative that Bonner has simply played one season too many and that continuing now risks tarnishing a legacy that includes multiple All-Star appearances, scoring titles, and deep playoff runs.
Age is the most obvious factor. Bonner turned 39 this year, an age at which even the most durable stars begin to see steep physical decline. Diana Taurasi, widely regarded as one of the greatest players ever, was still contributing at 42, albeit with diminished athleticism and efficiency. Bonner’s current production sits below even that late-career Taurasi standard. She is being targeted in isolation situations at a rate that would be concerning for a much younger player, and the results have been poor. Opponents are exploiting her diminished lateral quickness and decision-making speed, creating easy scoring opportunities and putting additional pressure on Phoenix’s already thin defensive rotations.
The Mercury’s overall situation compounds the problem. A roster that was expected to compete for a title has instead collapsed early. Phoenix has struggled with consistency, chemistry, and execution across the board. Bonner’s presence in the rotation, even in reduced minutes, has not provided the veteran stability or scoring punch many anticipated. Instead, she has become a visible symbol of the team’s broader regression. When a player of her stature is playing limited minutes, missing shots at a high rate, and finishing games with significant negative plus-minus, it sends a clear signal that the organization is in trouble.
Bonner’s departure from Indiana after last season also adds context. She left the Fever while Caitlin Clark was still recovering from injury, a detail often overlooked in narratives that tried to link her exit to Clark’s on-court demeanor. The move to Phoenix was framed as an opportunity for recognition and a chance to contend, yet the results have been the opposite. Rather than enjoying a swan-song season with a winning team, Bonner has watched her role shrink and her efficiency plummet. The emotional weight of that reality, combined with the physical toll of a 17-year career, appears to be catching up all at once.
Critics of the “retire now” sentiment argue that Bonner has earned the right to play out her career on her own terms. She has been a model of longevity and professionalism, adapting her game multiple times as her athleticism evolved. She still possesses moments of skill and basketball IQ that younger players lack. Forcing an abrupt exit could feel disrespectful to a player who has given so much to the league. There is also the practical reality that many veterans use their final seasons to secure additional earnings through overseas play or alternative leagues like Project B, where Bonner could potentially earn meaningful money while traveling and competing at a lower intensity.
Yet the counterargument is equally compelling. Continuing to play at this level risks turning a celebrated career into a cautionary tale. Bonner is no longer helping the Mercury win games in any consistent way. Her shooting has become a liability rather than an asset, and her defensive limitations are being exploited nightly. When a team is already struggling, inserting a player who cannot reliably contribute on either end creates additional problems. The Mercury would likely be better served giving those minutes to younger players who can grow through the experience, even if the results remain imperfect in the short term.
Bonner’s situation also reflects a larger conversation in women’s basketball about how teams and players navigate the end of careers. The WNBA has seen several legends extend their playing days in recent years, sometimes with mixed results. Taurasi’s persistence at an advanced age was celebrated because she remained a functional contributor on a contending team. Bonner’s current reality is different. She is on a last-place roster, playing limited and largely ineffective minutes, and watching her once-elite skills erode in real time. The dignity of a retirement tour is still available to her if she chooses to step away now. Delaying that decision risks turning the final chapter into a series of increasingly difficult nights under the spotlight.
The statistical picture is difficult to ignore. Bonner’s field-goal percentage sits well below her career norms. Her three-point shooting has collapsed to the point where it is actively hurting her team’s spacing. She is not creating efficient offense for herself or others at a rate that justifies regular rotation spots on a team fighting for relevance. The plus-minus numbers, while influenced by team context, reflect the reality that lineups including Bonner have been outscored significantly. These are not isolated bad games; they represent a sustained decline that shows no immediate signs of reversing.
For a player of Bonner’s stature, the decision to retire is deeply personal. She has earned millions, won championships, and secured her place in the league’s history. She does not need another season to validate her legacy. What she does need is an honest assessment of whether continuing serves her, her team, or the fans who have followed her career. The current evidence suggests that the answer is increasingly no on all three counts.
The Mercury face their own difficult choices. With the season already slipping away, the organization must decide whether to continue giving minutes to a declining veteran or accelerate the development of younger talent. Bonner’s presence provides leadership and institutional knowledge, but those intangibles carry less weight when the on-court product is suffering and the losses are mounting. A clean break now would allow both sides to move forward with clarity rather than prolonging an uncomfortable situation.
DeWanna Bonner remains one of the greatest players in WNBA history. Her scoring prowess, versatility, and longevity are undeniable. The current version of that player, however, is a shadow of her former self. At 39, with efficiency numbers in free fall and a team in last place, the most graceful exit may be the one that comes before the decline becomes even more pronounced. Retirement now would allow Bonner to control her narrative, celebrate her accomplishments on her terms, and avoid the slow erosion of a legacy built over nearly two decades. The alternative is continuing to play through visibly diminished capacity while her team writes off another season. For a player who has given so much, the former path seems the more fitting conclusion.
