In a sport where respect among teammates is often sacred, Sophie Cunningham has sparked debate in the WNBA by directly calling out DeWanna Bonner for her unexpected and silent exit from the Indiana Fever. During an appearance on the Show Me Something podcast, Cunningham didn’t hold back, explaining how Bonner vanished from the team without a trace-not even a message in the group chat.
“Not a text, not a voice note, nothing,”Cunningham said firmly. Her statement not only confirmed internal frustration but also reflected the confusion triggered by Bonner’s departure. The veteran star had arrived in Indiana with high expectations, seen as a key piece alongside Caitlin Clark in a promising new era for the franchise.
Bonner left Indiana Fever without notice
DeWanna Bonner had signed with the Fever during the offseason, in what many viewed as a strategic move to contend for a championship alongside Caitlin Clark and head coach Stephanie White. But what seemed like a powerful alliance lasted just nine games. Bonner requested a leave of absence without explanation and never returned. Shortly after, she was removed from the roster, cleared waivers, and signed with the Phoenix Mercury-her former team and the current home of her fiancée.
The sudden switch didn’t go unnoticed by fans in Indianapolis, who greeted her return with a loud chorus of boos. Mercury star Kahleah Copper slammed the fan reaction, but Cunningham understood it: “Boos are part of the game,” she said, downplaying the controversy.
Bonner and the reactions around the WNBA
Cunningham made it clear that she has no personal issues with Bonner, but was genuinely surprised by the lack of communication. “It’s not drama, it’s not an attack,” she clarified. “It’s just the truth.” And that truth-shared by many inside and outside the locker room-is that Bonner ghosted her team, leaving behind not just a competitive void, but an emotional one as well.
Even other players, like Natisha Hiedeman and Courtney Williams, joked about the situation: “If you left Minnesota tomorrow, they’d boo you too,” they quipped. Bonner, for her part, responded cryptically on Instagram: “IN DUE TIME,” suggesting she’ll eventually share her side of the story.
Professionalism in the WNBA
The case has sparked a broader conversation around loyalty, communication, and professionalism in the WNBA. Cunningham wasn’t looking for drama or confrontation-just honesty. “It’s not always about what you do while you’re there, but how you leave,” she concluded.
Words that carry weight in a league that values sisterhood and transparency. And when those unspoken rules are broken, sometimes it takes someone like Cunningham to say what no one else is willing to.
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