On Saturday, Indiana Fever forward DeWanna Bonner surpassed Hall of Famer Tina Thompson to become the third in the WNBA’s all-time scoring list during the team’s opening win over the Chicago Sky.
DeWanna Bonner received a standing ovation from the crowd at @GainbridgeFH after moving into third all-time on the WNBA scoring list ❤️ pic.twitter.com/adC6ldQ4PL
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) May 17, 2025
DeWanna Bonner is playing in her 16th season in the WNBA, first with the Indiana Fever after spending the first ten years of her career with the Phoenix Mercury—and the last five with the Connecticut Sun. Throughout her career, she played alongside teammates such as Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner, won two WNBA championships with the Phoenix Mercury, and won three consecutive Sixth Woman of the Year awards.
Bonner has played in 87 postseason games and six WNBA All-Star games during her illustrious career, solidifying her status as a future Hall of Famer for her contributions to women’s basketball.
Guard Caitlin Clark achieved a triple-double for the Fever, scoring 20 points, grabbing ten rebounds, and dishing out ten assists. As she is in her second season in the league, she expresses gratitude for the opportunity to play alongside Bonner. Clark is optimistic that Bonner will continue to provide valuable guidance to the younger players through her leadership and veteran experience.
“DB is somebody who is a Hall of Famer, a legend,” Clark said, via IndyStar. “Not only a good basketball player, but a great person, a great leader. The strongest voice in our locker room is hers, and it’s fun to have been around her and get to learn from her. I’m really happy she got to do it at the free throw line and all fans could go crazy and cheer for her, because she certainly deserved that moment.”
DeWanna Bonner Passes Tina Thompson on the WNBA All-Time Scoring List
During the game, Bonner contributed to the Fever’s blowout win with seven points, three rebounds, and two assists while playing 26 minutes of action. After she made two free throws in the third quarter, fans inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse gave a loud standing ovation as she made history to join Taurasi— who is on top with 10,646 career points—and Tina Charles, who is second with 7,719 career points.
“You guys, I felt like every game last year (in Connecticut), we were saying ‘DeWanna Bonner moves into 12th, DeWanna Bonner moves into 11th, DeWanna Bonner moves into top-5,’” Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White said, via the IndyStar. “It’s really incredible, not just her longevity, but her efficiency and how good she’s been her entire career.”
After the game concluded, Bonner celebrated the accomplishment with her teammates and the coaching staff of the Fever, and received acknowledgments from WNBA legends such as Taurasi and Sue Bird, as well as her current teammates.
“I kind of got a little bit emotional,” Bonner said after the game Saturday. “To be at this moment in front of a sold out crowd, in front of all of this attention. And to have that moment is pretty special to me—And for it to happen right then and there this time in my career, I’m so grateful.”
Alyssa Thomas Praises Fiancée DeWanna Bonner
In the video, Taurasi expressed gratitude and pleasure of playing alongside Bonner for a decade in Phoenix. She said, “Don’t stop, keep going. Go for that number one spot,” and winked, hoping for Bonner to surpass her at No. 1 in the all-time scoring list. In June 2017, Taurasi scored a layup during the Mercury vs. Sparks game in Los Angeles to surpass Thompson at the top spot to make history as the league’s all-time leading scorer.
WNBA legends, former teammates, and family congratulate DeWanna Bonner on moving into third on the WNBA’s all-time scoring list 🥹
“Congrats, D, on being the 3rd all-time leading scorer. We’re so proud of you and we love you!” pic.twitter.com/YRRs3YIroS
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) May 17, 2025
“I always say I played with the greatest of all time in Diana,” Bonner said of Taurasi, via the IndyStar. “If I learned anything, I learned the blueprint on how to stay in this league, she did it for 20 years, and she was great at it… I just credit all that to her, and this path, I really had the greatest blueprint.”
Alyssa Thomas, a forward for the Phoenix Mercury and the fiancée of Bonner, expressed her pride in Bonner for making history by moving into the top three of the league’s all-time scoring list. The two were teammates on the Connecticut Sun for five seasons, during which they reached the semifinals every year. They also competed in the 2022 WNBA Finals, where they were defeated by A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces in four games.
On Saturday, Thomas made an impressive debut alongside Satou Sabally for the Mercury in the victory over the Seattle Storm with 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
“I’m super proud of her,” Thomas said Saturday. “I’ve been along the ride, you know, as she’s moved up this, this ranks, and I know how much it means to her. I mean, it’s unheard of to be top three, so you know that speaks so much to what she does and what she’s about.”
The Indiana Fever will take on Rhyne Howard and the Atlanta Dream inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Tuesday.
