Bonner traded to Connecticut Sun for 3 1st-round picks

The Phoenix Mercury traded DeWanna Bonner to the Connecticut Sun for three first-round draft picks Tuesday.

The Mercury received the No. 7 and 10 overall picks in this year’s draft as well as the Sun’s first-round pick next season.

Bonner had played her entire career with the Mercury after getting drafted fifth in 2009. She helped the team win championships in 2009 and 2014. The 32-year-old was the franchise’s all-time leading rebounder (2,072) and second on the scoring list (4,820) behind only Diana Taurasi.

“We drafted DeWanna in 2009, and together we won championships in 2009 and 2014,” Mercury general manager Jim Pitman said.

“We watched as she became a sixth woman of the year, All-Star, all-WNBA player, and most importantly a mother. Ultimately, she has decided the next stage of her career does not include us and we wish her the best. She and her daughters, Cali and Demi, will always remain a part of the Mercury family.”

Bonner missed the 2017 season because she was pregnant.

Bonner was an unrestricted free agent, but by doing a sign-and-trade she was able to potentially earn an extra $30,000 as the new maximum salary in the collective bargaining agreement is $215,000. If she had just signed with Connecticut the maximum she would have been able to earn would have been $185,000.

The Mercury still have a lot of room to make moves with only a half-dozen players under contract. Taurasi, Briann January, Alanna Smith, Brianna Turner and Sophie Cunningham are all signed. Brittney Griner was given the core designation by the team.