Jason Whitlock didn’t hold back on Thursday’s episode of Fearless, pointing to what he believes is an uncomfortable truth about the WNBA—the growing influence of “sexual politics” within team dynamics.
Whitlock and co-host Steve Kim were discussing the Dallas Wings’ recent trade of NaLyssa Smith to the Las Vegas Aces in exchange for a 2027 first-round draft pick. Smith is in a relationship with Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington, and Whitlock claims that the relationship was part of what fractured the Wings internally.
“There’s sexual dynamics that go on in women’s sports, particularly basketball and the WNBA, that no one wants to talk about—but it’s very prevalent,” Whitlock said. “DeWanna Bonner, the free agent acquisition the Fever got… part of the reason she wants to leave, according to most sources, is she wants to reunite with her girlfriend, wife, fiancé—whatever—Alyssa Thomas.”
DeWanna Bonner has been absent from Indiana’s lineup since June 10, and rumors of a move back to the Phoenix Mercury—where she spent the first decade of her WNBA career—are heating up. Whitlock believes the league’s push for inclusivity has opened doors for internal challenges that hurt team focus.
He also took a shot at Sydney Colson’s viral locker room moment where she humped Caitlin Clark during postgame celebrations: “The sexual politics inside the WNBA is something they want to keep a secret—and Sydney Colson here did not help them out.”
Shake-up in the WNBA imminent with Bonner’s trade to Phoenix intensifies
The WNBA is getting set for another shake-up as DeWanna Bonner’s days with the Indiana Fever are nearing their end, with a possibility of heading back to the Phoenix Mercury.
After a surprise break-up with the Fever, reports circulated that former Mercury forward and two-time WNBA champion Bonner would like to return to Phoenix this season.
Bonner was the fifth pick in the 2009 WNBA draft with the Mercury, where she spent her first 10 seasons in the league, and won two WNBA titles and three Sixth Person of the Year awards.
Many fans want to see Bonner back in Phoenix, and for journalist Jeff Metcalfe, who has covered the Mercury since the WNBA’s inaugural season, he believes it could work.
“I don’t see anything wrong with bringing Bonner in,” Metcalfe said. “Initially, I thought, ‘OK, is there going to be any disruption to the chemistry?’ But I think because (Alyssa) Thomas is here and they’ve obviously got a personal relationship and a basketball relationship. I think they would pick that right back up.”
If Bonner can return to Phoenix, she’ll be reunited with her girlfriend, Alyssa Thomas, which could help the squad on the court due to their personal relationship off it.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
