Bay Area’s basketball scene knows a thing or three about long-distance connections, and in a cruel irony, DeWanna Bonner came equipped with a few examples during her own journey back to the Phoenix Mercury franchise. Looking every bit like the WNBA’s No. 2 all-time leading scorer during her second game back in the orange-and-purple, Bonner uses off-ball instincts to escape Kayla Thornton before letting fly an accurate 33-foot flamethrower. One could’ve called the Mercury star’s shot a “heat check,” of sorts, given her near-perfect performance on July 14, 2025. The six-time All-Star closed the evening with 22 points — miraculously with only a single missed shot — alongside 11 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and three 3-pointers. The Golden State Valkyries, as they often do, fought valiantly, but Bonner, with help from her All-Star partner, proved too clutch to be denied, as Phoenix held steady for a one-point win. · Jul 15, 2025