The Atlanta Dream clinched a playoff berth last week for the fourth straight season, but this one feels a bit different than the past three. Trading for Angel Reese before the start of the season showed that they were all-in on trying to win a championship, and the move has proved to be one that has helped them on both sides of the ball while also competing with some of the best teams in the league.
To add to their “all-in” push, adding key veterans when they become available at this point in the season
is key. Luckily for the Dream, they were able to indulge in that, signing DeWanna Bonner after she and the Phoenix Mercury agreed to a contract buyout. Bonner’s request for her next team was simple, and it was to play for a contender, as it could be her final chance at winning a championship.
It should be no surprise that she chose the Dream.
The two-time WNBA champion had apparently been trying to get to the Dream for the past few years, and this felt like perfect timing for both sides. With Brionna Jones’ health in question and the Dream wanting to add depth and experience, it makes perfect sense that she’ll be in a Dream jersey for the remainder of the season.
Bonner’s fit with the team should be seamless, and the one way she’ll make everybody’s job easier is her perimeter shooting. The Dream are known for getting the 3-ball up, and Bonner has never been shy about letting it fly throughout her career. If she’s really feeling it, she may even step back a little beyond the 3-point line.
Her shooting can allow space for other players on the team to go to work, and it makes the opposing team have to guard tighter on the perimeter. As the season has gone on, teams have tried to blitz Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray off the 3-point line, but they may want to play it smarter now if Bonner is on the floor with them.
Not only will Bonner help clear the space for perimeter players, but she’ll make it easy on the interior for Angel Reese. Just as the inside-out game with Reese and Brionna Jones was going to be a key part of the Dream’s offense, the same could be said when you add Bonner to the equation. She knows how to use her pump fake to get to the basket and finish, but she also has the vision to find her open teammates when the defense is scattered in those situations.
Playing with someone like Alyssa Thomas is only going to help Bonner with finding ways to maximize Reese’s strength in the paint, and it could open up so many opportunities on offense.
Defensively, Bonner knows how to make the smart, winning plays to put the team in position to succeed. Whether it’s having to guard out on the perimeter or using her length on the inside, Bonner can stand her ground when she needs to.
If Jones continues to miss time, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Bonner was in the closing lineups of games to give the Dream a different look on the court if they need it. If they need more defense, they may ride with Naz Hillmon, but if they need offense, Bonner could be the answer.
Maybe one of the most important things that Bonner brings to the team is her experience. At this point in the season, having that veteran to guide you matters, and Bonner has seen and been through it all in her many years in the league. She could be someone who helps Reese, just like Reese has helped Madina Okot through her rookie season. The Dream have one of the younger cores in the league, and players like Bonner bring a lot of value.
This was a move that could help the Dream in so many ways, and hopefully, it will pay off for them when the postseason comes around.
