Height
6'4"
Weight
140 lbs
Age
38
College
Auburn
Experience
16 yrs
WNBA Performance is graded on per-game box production relative to position.
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Grade DeWanna Bonner
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The Verdict in One Read
DeWanna Bonner earns a B Performance grade, ranking #20 of 51 Forwards on the FanVerdicts board.
Performance
DeWanna Bonner's B-grade performance slots her among solid, reliable rotation pieces at the forward position—a veteran contributor who remains genuinely useful rather than a star-level talent at this stage of her career. In the 2026 season across 10 games played, her 5.0 rebounds per game and 0.8 steals per game represent her clearest strengths, with the steal rate particularly reflecting her continued viability as a perimeter defender despite modest scoring production of 7.6 points per game. The glaring weakness is her shooting efficiency: a 35.1% field-goal percentage and 16.7% three-point shooting indicate she is not an efficient scorer, and those numbers signal limited offensive creation at a time when spacing and shooting are premium. Her limited role—10 games in an early-season window—suggests a depth-piece usage pattern aligned with the Mercury's apparent strategy of managing her workload while leveraging her defensive instincts and locker-room presence. The mediaFraming reinforces this positioning: she is a long-tenured organizational anchor valued for two-way reliability, mentorship, and championship-moment credibility rather than carrying any offensive load. Bonner's outlook hinges on staying healthy and maintaining her defensive edge as a complementary starter, a realistic trajectory for a 38-year-old whose career transcends raw point totals.
Contract Value Index
DeWanna Bonner earns a B- Contract Value Index (CVI) on a deal that reflects pragmatic roster management rather than star-power compensation—a one-year, $500K agreement that positions her precisely where her late-career value sits in the modern WNBA market. Her 2026 production tells a story of selective usage: 7.6 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and a 0.8 SPG across 10 games reveal a player whose offensive load has contracted significantly, offset by the defensive reliability that has defined her 16-year resume. At $500K annually—a modest rotation-level salary—the Mercury are essentially buying depth, locker-room credibility, and perimeter defense at a price that acknowledges her age (38) and reduced scoring volume without overstretching cap resources. The CVI grade sits just below market equilibrium because while her intangible leadership value and proven playoff pedigree carry weight, the shooting splits (35.1% FG, 16.7% 3P) and limited games played signal a role compressed into situational minutes rather than a foundational lineup piece. Media framing uniformly celebrates her as a stabilizing veteran whose legacy—seventh all-time in WNBA steals and six All-Star selections—justifies her presence in Phoenix's championship window, and the Mercury's swift re-signing endorses that organizational faith. The one-year structure offers mutual flexibility; if her minutes or production decline further, the deal carries minimal long-term risk, making it a sensible hold for a contender navigating depth rotations rather than a bargain or an overpay.
2026 Season Stats10 GP
7.6
PPG
5.0
RPG
1.0
APG
0.8
SPG
0.6
BPG
35.1
FG%
16.7
3P%
100.0
FT%