On July 27th 2017, DeWanna Bonner gave birth to her two twins.
On July 28th 2018, Bonner was stepping onto the court for her second All-Star appearance.
After missing the entire previous season, Bonner is back and looks as if she never left. She is currently the only player in the WNBA this season to rank in the top 20 in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and free throw percentage.
Not only has Bonner had to overcome the physical toll of childbearing, but she also has the role of raising her children when she’s not on the court. Whether it’s at practice or after a game, Head Coach Sandy Brondello has embraced having the twins around.
“This is a family,” Brondello said. “I embrace family. My kids grow up around the basketball court. I think that’s fantastic. We are women. That’s going to happen at certain times. Let’s embrace it.”
Bonner has faced the difficult task of raising children while also working to get herself in shape and ready for the Mercury season. As this season has unfolded, she looks to be exceeding at both.
She is currently averaging 16.6 points to go along with her 6.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists. This earned the three-time WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year her second All-Star nod.
Just one day after her twins first birthday, Bonner was set to take the court for All-Star weekend. She was a huge spark off the bench for Team Delle Donne as she scored 13 points on 66 percent shooting with five rebounds.
“It was really fun,” Bonner said. “The crowd was unbelievable.”
Bonner has also continued to climb through the Mercury’s record books as she’s second all-time in games played and her 29 career double-doubles place her third in franchise history.
She continued her success Sunday in the win against the Los Angeles Sparks as she led all scorers with a season-high 31 points while grabbing eight rebounds.
While coming back after giving birth is a daunting task, Bonner not only accepted, but has overcome this challenge and has done so in a remarkable manner. The two-time WNBA champion is seeking her third title as the Mercury continue to battle through the season.