DeWanna Bonner, a 17-year WNBA veteran, recently agreed to a buyout with the Mercury. Christian Petersen / Getty Images
Aug. 26, 2026 Updated 8:35 pm EDT
DeWanna Bonner, a 17-year WNBA veteran, will sign with the Atlanta Dream for the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs, according to league sources who spoke Wednesday on the condition of anonymity because the deal has not been announced yet.
Bonner’s deal will be for a prorated maximum salary, which would pay her roughly $116,000 through the rest of the season, the sources said.
The Dream, fourth in league standings with a 25-13 record, were already a serious playoff threat before adding Bonner. She will provide the team with much-needed depth and playoff experience, as they look to claim their first WNBA title.
Drafted fifth by the Phoenix Mercury in 2009, Bonner, 39, has averaged 13.2 points and 6.8 rebounds in her playoff career. The two-time WNBA champion has only missed the postseason once and is set to make her 16th playoff appearance.
Bonner agreed Monday to a buyout with the Phoenix Mercury after the team was eliminated from playoff contention. Mercury GM Nick U’Ren said because of the organization’s relationship with Bonner, an agreement was reached to give her “the opportunity to chase a title in what could be her final postseason.”
Bonner cleared waivers Wednesday and is free to sign with the Dream as an unrestricted free agent.
The Dallas Wings, New York Liberty and Washington Mystics were the three other playoff teams with enough cap space to offer Bonner a prorated max deal. The Dream have used seven different starting lineups this season, but their most frequent starting five of Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray, Naz Hillmon, Rhyne Howard and Angel Reese is not expected to change with Bonner’s addition.
While the Dream have the cap space to sign Bonner, they currently have the league max of 12 players signed to standard contracts, meaning they must waive one player to create roster space for Bonner.
Aug 27, 2026
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