Seventeen seasons in, DeWanna Bonner says the one that ended without a trophy is the one that changed her life.
“This move to Atlanta was life-changing, far beyond winning or losing a championship,” Bonner wrote after Golden State beat the Atlanta Dream in seven games for the 2026 WNBA title. “The happiness and joy that came with this city/team was unmatched!”
Bonner is 39, a six-time All-Star, third on the WNBA’s all-time scoring list, and the only player to win the Sixth Player of the Year award three years running. She went to Atlanta looking for a third ring after Phoenix bought out her contract, once the Mercury were out of playoff contention, and the Dream’s run was widely assumed to be her last season.
She carried more than she was signed to carry. In the semifinal sweep of the New York Liberty, Allisha Gray missed major minutes with a hand injury, and Bonner absorbed the load. Her shooting was less steady in the Finals against Golden State.
On what comes next, she gave nothing away. “As for what’s next? Just remember, if you didn’t hear it from me, you haven’t heard it yet,” she wrote. As of November 4, 2026, she was a free agent and had said little else publicly since the loss.
