DeWanna Bonner emphasizes that WNBA couples should prioritize what works best for them, regardless of their experiences in navigating relationships within the league.
Having been together and playing alongside her fiancée and Mercury teammate Alyssa Thomas since 2020, Bonner represents a well-known couple in the league.
When asked if she offers advice to younger players about managing relationships in the league, the two-time WNBA champion was quite straightforward.
“A personal relationship is a personal relationship. Alyssa and I have been together for a long time, and we know how to manage our situation,” Bonner mentioned following a practice session with the Mercury.
Bonner stated, “We handle our business when it’s time to focus on basketball. Our connection has clearly worked out; we’ve been playing together for about eight or nine years. It’s really about personal choices—whatever people feel is necessary to sustain their relationships is what they will do, just like we do our own thing.”
Bonner first met Thomas online and was later traded from the Mercury to the Sun in 2020, eventually becoming teammates. Their bond deepened during the COVID-19 bubble, and they publicly confirmed their relationship in 2021, with Thomas proposing in July 2023.
This topic has gained attention, especially after Aj Fudd was selected first overall by the Wings, reuniting with former Union University teammate Paige Bueckers.
Interest in the duo’s off-court relationship spiked last week, particularly when Fudd was questioned about it during the Wings’ opening press conference, only to have the question cut short by the media staff.
While the coaching staff mentioned playing alongside Fudd during their first practice, they didn’t delve into anything beyond the basketball court.
Sharing a history of playing together since their teens, Bakkers expressed, “We’ve had years to fine-tune our connection. We understand each other’s games, which makes it especially meaningful to be back in this position together.”
Rumors of their relationship began circulating in July 2025 when Fudd shared a mirror selfie showcasing a phone case that read “Paige Buecker’s Girlfriend.”
Bueckers later confirmed their relationship in an interview, adding, “We are just close friends, as shown on Instagram,” during a chat with “WAG Talk.” The two subsequently appeared in another interview describing their friendship.
