DeWanna Bonner reaches 8,000 career points, Mercury fall to Sky

PHOENIX — DeWanna Bonner added another milestone to her Hall of Fame résumé Tuesday night, becoming just the third player in WNBA history to reach 8,000 career points. But the historic achievement came in a 77-66 loss for the Phoenix Mercury against the Chicago Sky, as turnovers and offensive inconsistency overshadowed the celebration.

Head coach Nate Tibbetts returned to the sidelines after missing Phoenix’s previous game against the Seattle Storm while recovering from an illness. The Mercury entered Tuesday’s matchup riding a three-game winning streak and having won four of their previous five games, looking to continue building momentum as the season approaches its midway point and the league nears the All-Star break.

Instead, Chicago’s relentless defense disrupted Phoenix from the opening quarter.

The Mercury opened with a quick 5-0 run before the Sky responded with a physical defensive effort that forced Phoenix into early mistakes. Chicago capitalized on seven first-quarter turnovers, converting them into 11 points while building a double-digit lead.

Phoenix struggled to find an offensive rhythm throughout the night. Despite showing flashes of improved ball movement in the second quarter behind Kahleah Copper, and Monique Akoa Makani, the Mercury entered halftime trailing 37-31 after committing costly turnovers and failing to consistently generate quality possessions.

The offensive struggles continued after halftime as Chicago maintained control with its defensive pressure. Phoenix finished with 15 turnovers through three quarters, allowing the Sky to dictate the pace while limiting the Mercury’s transition opportunities.

A tense moment came late in the third quarter when Alyssa Thomas went down on a non-contact play and was helped to the locker room after appearing to injure her left foot. Thomas returned in the fourth quarter to a standing ovation from the home crowd, easing concerns about what initially appeared to be a significant injury.

Chicago extended its lead to as many as 20 points in the second half before Phoenix mounted a late rally, trimming the deficit to 11. The comeback ultimately fell short as the Mercury dropped their first game after a three-game winning streak.

Although the loss highlighted areas the Mercury continue to address, the night belonged to Bonner’s historic accomplishment.

The 18-year veteran reached the 8,000-point plateau, joining only Diana Taurasi and Tina Charles in WNBA history to achieve the milestone. Bonner also remains the only player in league history with at least 8,000 career points, 3,000 rebounds and 500 steals. She is nine games away from passing Taurasi for second place on the WNBA’s all-time games played list and already owns the league record for career playoff appearances, currently at 98.

Following the game, Bonner reflected on sharing the milestone with her family.

“It warmed my heart to have my children here,” Bonner said. “I couldn’t ask for a better WNBA career. I wouldn’t change it for the world. It’s been a fun journey.”

Despite the milestone, Tibbetts said the team’s performance left plenty to improve.

“Our turnovers and offense were extremely disappointing,” Tibbetts said. “We were out of sync offensively. Defensively, I was proud of our effort, but we didn’t give ourselves a chance because of the turnovers.”

Tibbetts praised Bonner’s impact on the franchise and the league, saying she has “set the standard” through her professionalism and consistency over nearly two decades.

On Thomas’ injury scare, Tibbetts said the team’s medical staff was confident enough to allow her return.

“We felt pretty good about her coming back into the game,” he said. “Otherwise, our medical staff wouldn’t have allowed it.”

Guard Monique Akoa Makani echoed her coach’s assessment, pointing to turnovers and team chemistry as priorities moving forward.

“The turnovers affected the game,” Akoa Makani said. “We have to do better, find our flow again and get our chemistry back.”

With the All-Star break approaching and the playoff race beginning to take shape, the Mercury know every game carries added importance. Despite Tuesday’s setback, Tibbetts said the team’s focus remains unchanged.

“We’re going to keep fighting,” Tibbetts said. “The goal is the playoffs.”

For Phoenix, Bonner’s historic night provided a reminder of the franchise’s championship tradition. Now, the Mercury hope to pair that experience with improved execution as they look to push toward postseason contention during the second half of the season as the season near the WNBA All-Star break. ♦︎