WNBA Team Releases Player to Sign Caitlin Clark’s Former Fever Teammate
WNBA Team Releases Player to Sign Caitlin Clark’s Former Fever Teammate
The Phoenix Mercury made a notable roster move this week, waiving guard Kiana Williams to make room for veteran forward DeWanna Bonner. The decision, while expected due to the WNBA’s strict 12-player roster limit, still caught attention across the league.
Williams, in her first season with the Mercury, had only just begun to carve out a role in Phoenix’s backcourt. She appeared in limited action this season, averaging 5.3 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game while providing depth behind Kahleah Copper, Sami Whitcomb and Monique Akoa-Makani.
A former standout at Stanford, Williams was originally drafted by the Seattle Storm in 2021 and briefly with the Connecticut Sun in 2022 before landing in Phoenix.
When asked about the possibility of being released, Williams responded with grace and maturity.
“I’m just grateful for the opportunity,” she told reporters.
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The move was made to create space for Bonner, a six-time All-Star who last played for the Connecticut Sun. Bonner brings experience and immediate scoring help, as she averaged 14.8 points per game over her 16-year career, something Phoenix hopes will boost them during their likely playoff run later this year.
Bonner began the 2025 WNBA season alongside Caitlin Clark and the rest of the Indiana Fever. However, she wasn’t satisfied with her role coming off the bench.
Former Indiana Fever forward DeWanna Bonner (25).Grace Smith-INDIANAPOLIS STAR-Imagn Images
Former Indiana Fever forward DeWanna Bonner (25).Grace Smith-INDIANAPOLIS STAR-Imagn Images
In nine games with the Fever, Bonner averaged 21.3 minutes, contributing 7.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
As the WNBA continues to deal with roster constraints and a growing pool of talent, tough decisions like these are becoming more common. For Williams, her journey may be on pause for now, but her professionalism and poise suggest she won’t be off the radar for long.
