‘Ring Chasers Will Not Be Rewarded,’ ‘Left Her Team To Lose Again’ – WNBA Fans Troll DeWanna Bonner After Dream’s Championship Loss vs. Valkyries

The Golden State Valkyries are WNBA champions in just their second season after beating the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7 of the Finals on Saturday at Chase Center. Atlanta, which also reached the Finals in 2010, 2011 and 2013, is still without a title.

That loss sent some WNBA fans back to DeWanna Bonner’s move to Atlanta. The 17-year veteran joined the Dream in late August after a buyout from the Phoenix Mercury, and one fan was among those criticizing how she left and how it ended.

DeWanna Bonner’s Late-Season Move Draws a Sharp Verdict

Gabby Williams carried Golden State in the deciding game, scoring 30 points on her way to Finals MVP honors. The Dream led at halftime, but the Valkyries outscored them 44-33 after the break.

Bonner played 14 minutes off the bench and scored four points on 2-of-6 shooting. Her layup midway through the third quarter gave Atlanta a 37-28 lead, its largest of the night. The Dream outscored Golden State by eight points with her on the floor, the team’s best plus-minus.

One fan made the case against her Saturday night: “DeWanna Bonner left two separate teams in two different seasons to ring chase. She didn’t ask. She just stopped playing.”

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The fan closed with a verdict on both of those runs: “In both seasons, her team lost in the finals. Karma.”

Bonner’s exits were more formal than the post suggests. She said Indiana granted her request to move on in 2025, while ESPN reported that she sought the Phoenix buyout in 2026.

Dewanna Bonner left two separate teams in two different seasons to ring chase. She didn’t ask. She just stopped playing. The teams she left couldn’t even get assets for her because she waited until after the trade deadline

In both seasons, her team lost in the finals. Karma.

— suns (10.29) (@antivirgosuns) November 1, 2026

That characterization does not fully fit Bonner’s 2025 exit from Indiana: the Fever waived her June 25, more than six weeks before that season’s August 7 trade deadline, after reportedly exploring trade possibilities.

There are important differences between the two departures. Indiana waived Bonner in June 2025, more than six weeks before that season’s trade deadline, after reportedly exploring trades, and Bonner said the Fever granted her request to move on.

In 2026, she sought a buyout from Phoenix after the Mercury had been eliminated from playoff contention.

Bonner’s history with Phoenix runs long. The Mercury drafted her fifth overall in 2009, and she spent the first 10 seasons of her career there before returning in 2025 after stints with the Connecticut Sun and the Indiana Fever.

Her exit this season came after the Mercury’s playoff hopes were gone. Phoenix was eliminated from contention August 22 with a 99-89 loss to the Dream, and Bonner agreed to a buyout with the Mercury two days later.

She cleared waivers August 26, and the Dream announced her signing the next day. ESPN reported that her deal was a prorated max contract worth about $116,000. Atlanta was 25-13 and had already clinched a playoff berth when it added the 39-year-old, a two-time champion and six-time All-Star who was averaging 10.6 points and 6.1 rebounds for Phoenix.

Bonner addressed her departure in a statement when she left Phoenix: “I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m grateful to the Mercury for giving me the opportunity to play in what could be one of my final postseason opportunities.”

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Another fan said, “Dewanna Bonner has quit on her team in the middle of the regular szn in back to back years and has lost in the finals twice in a row. Basketball gods will not reward that nasty [expletive] ring chasing. Enjoy retirement.”

Other fans zeroed in on the result. “Left her team to lose again,” another fan wrote.

But Dewanna Bonner tho 🫠🫠🫠

Left her team to lose again lol 😂

— Shraddha (@Shraddhan6uk) November 1, 2026

A third fan brought in Angel Reese, Atlanta’s star forward: “DeWanna Bonner wins nothing. Angel Reese wins Nothing. Ring chasers will not be rewarded.”

DeWanna Bonner wins nothing
Angel Reese wins Nothing.
Ring chasers will not be rewarded.

— CCFC-New season (@sohali2012) November 1, 2026

A fourth fan took the argument from the result to the rules. “From a purely basketball standpoint it’s probably good that DeWanna Bonner has lost in the finals the last 2 years,” the fan wrote.

The fan argued that Bonner “walked twice mid season to join contenders, didn’t allow them to get assets and this year actually made MORE money by doing it.” Then came a proposed fix: “Needs to be a rule to stop it.”

From a purely basketball standpoint it’s probably good that Dewanna Bonner has lost in the finals the last 2 years

She walked twice mid season to join contenders, didn’t allow them to get assets and this year actually made MORE money by doing it

Needs to be a rule to stop it

— Mick (@DBGyt_) November 1, 2026

Bonner joined Atlanta as a free agent rather than in a trade.

Her deal with the Dream ran through the end of the 2026 season and the playoffs. Whether Bonner plays in 2027, in Atlanta or anywhere else, is the decision now in front of her.