WNBA Phoenix Mercury

DeWanna Bonner Named Western Conference Player of the Week

Published on September 6, 2011 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Phoenix Mercury News Release


PHOENIX - Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner was named the WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, August 29 through Sunday, September 4, the league office announced today. Bonner is the fourth different Mercury player to win the award this season, the most of any WNBA team in league history (Candice Dupree, Diana Taurasi and Penny Taylor).

Bonner, the WNBA's Sixth Woman of the Year in 2009 and 2010, was in the starting lineup for the Mercury's first two games during the week, taking the place of forward Penny Taylor, who was sidelined by back spasms. In her first start of the season, the third-year pro out of Auburn led Phoenix to a 96-74 win over Tulsa by tying her career high of 25 points and adding nine rebounds. She followed that up with a 23-point effort at San Antonio for the first back-to-back 20-point outings of her career. The Fairfield, Ala., native then closed out the week by contributing 12 boards and nine points in a win over conference rival Los Angeles that gave Phoenix a 2-1 record for the week and secured a playoff berth for the Mercury.

For the week, Bonner ranked third in the WNBA and second in the West in rebounding (9.3 rpg) while her 19.0 points per game placed her fourth overall and third in the Conference in scoring. In three games she made eight 3-pointers, tying the most in a three-game span in her career, and finished 8-of-18 (.444) from long range placing her fifth among Western Conference players. She also finished sixth in both field goal percentage (.514 on 19-for-37 from the field) and free throws (.917, going 11-for-12 from the line).

Bonner and the Mercury return to action Thursday night when they host the Tulsa Shock at US Airways Center. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. With just three games remaining, Phoenix is in a battle with Friday night's opponent, the Seattle Storm, for second place in the West. The Mercury closes the season at home Sunday, September 11 against the West-leading Minnesota Lynx.

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