September 21, 2024 • 16 mins
Khristina is joined by a 2-time WNBA Champion, 6-time WNBA All-Star, and one of the best to ever play DeWanna Bonner. They discuss DeWanna’s 15 years in the league, the changes that she has seen as well as how she has remained so consistent for so long.
She goes deep on what Diana Taurasi has meant to her career, tells an incredible story about DT’s generosity, and lets you know who her GOAT will always be. Plus, she breaks down the Connecticut Sun’s 1st round Playoff opponent the Indiana Fever, and how they plan to slow down Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell.
Want more women’s basketball scoop?
Follow the show on Instagram @ICYMIwithKW and X @ICYMIwithKW and for more on Khristina follow her on Instagram @khristinawilliams
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CREDITS
Executive Producers:
Nikki Ettore
Jessie Katz
Tyler Klang
Jonathan Strickland
Supervising Producer:
Peter Coughter
Producer & Editor:
Tari Harrison
Host:
Khristina Williams
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
In Case You Missed It with Christina Williams is an
iHeart Woman's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports
and Entertainment. Welcome back to a special edition of In
Case You Missed It with Christina Williams here on the
iHeartRadio app. And I'm super excited about my next guest
(00:22):
for this week. She's a two time WNBA champion and
a six time WNBA All Star.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Please welcome to the show none other than Do Wanna,
Bonna Do Wanna. Thank you so much for being here,
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
All right, I'm gonna dive right in. So this is
your fifteenth WNBA season. What makes this season so special
for you?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Oh man?
Speaker 4 (00:44):
The fans. The fans has been amazing. The viewership that
we are getting right now has been insane. It's the
first year, you know, since my w maker that I've
seen it like this. So it's just been pretty special
to see you where it was to where it is now.
So very appreciative that and very blessed to be playing
right now at this time, in this moment and still
be able to produce a couple of minutes on the
(01:06):
court in this in this day and.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Age fifteen seasons into the w and you have the
opportunity to move to the third on the all time
WNBA list for games played and in your numbers again
to remain consistent in your thirties.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
How do you explain your longevity in the league.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Oh, yes, tough, of course, because you know there's injuries.
That's nice that I'm like tired, so i can't get
out of bed. But I've read a lot of my
my path and I had I always told people I
had a great blueprint and mimicking Diana. She's the best
at the longevity and being successful and still producing to
(01:47):
this day twenty years there for her, so I kind
of had her to see what it takes day in
and day out. Like I said, my first year, she
was the first one in the gym and in the
last one to leave. So it's just like I saw
the hard work and I'm like, Okay, this is what
I need to do to stay in this league and
be successful. This is what I'm going to do, and
so I created a lot to her.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
I want to go into the Connecticut Sun because you
guys have punched the third overall seed in the w
NBA playoffs and in this round one you will base
the Indiana Fever as an opponent. What are you seeing
from this Fever team that you know will make the
Connecticut sun rise to the occasion in this round one matchup.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
They're playing that best basketball right now and it's kind
of great to see that.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
They push the pace.
Speaker 4 (02:29):
They're probably the fastest paced team in the WNBA right
now and they get the ball out really quick. They
have two dynamic scores and Kelsey Mitchell and and Caitlin Clark,
so of course that's their main focus. But they're best
playing really well together. They hot right now and good
thing they're coming to our homecret because it's really really
hard playing there, so starting here will be great.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
And just trying to, you know, figure out where we
can be better to be them.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
What has been the shift for this team in the
second half of the season, especially with the addition of
Marina Mabriy.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Yeah, we have to out a lot of things and
we're still figuring out.
Speaker 4 (03:01):
When you add a big piece, it shift things, especially
in the middle of season when you are like already
in a routine and you already have you know where,
you know where your shots coming from, and you know
what players ran for who and what. But then you
add a piece where you have to run plays to
her too, and then uh so it shifts everybody, uh differently,
not in a bad way.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
We just got to figure out where you need to
be on the court now.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
And uh, I think people roads change drastfully, and it
was it was different for our team. It was. It
takes a lot of adjustment and I'm just super proud
because we handled it so well. Of course we dropped
some games, but and I think that's okay because we
learned a lot from those games that we drop. And
I don't think if we, you know, continue to win
out or we won out the whole second and half
of the season, I think we would have been in
(03:45):
the boot, awaken for playoffs. So the fact that we did,
you know, drop a couple of games and trying to
understand how we can play and learn from each other
is it's been huge. And uh we still figured it out.
We got one more game to do it. But when
playoffs comes, is hitting the ground running?
Speaker 1 (04:00):
What do you think is the different mode that the
Connecticut sign kind of switch on when playoffs come? Because
this is a team that's time and time again, it's
been very close to you know, that step of winning
a WNBA championship.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
What mode or gear do you guys switch on in
the playoffs?
Speaker 4 (04:13):
We haven't won, we haven't won anything. So if we
don't have a choice but to continue to be hungry,
we are not satisfied. Ever, you can't be satisfied when
you keep you know, losing, you keep getting that closer.
I think it just makes you hungry and hungry, and
so just trying to figure out how we can finally
get over the hump. And we've got to learn how
to take things one game at a time. Of course,
we're a team that or you can easily look ahead
(04:36):
and be like, okay, well when you play this person
in this round, you know, but every team is good
this year. You see, every game every single night is
competitive no matter what. So just understanding that we have
to take this thing in quarter by quarter really and
game by game to be successful and hopefully get over hump.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
But we will forever be hungry. And so we get one.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Looking at that round one matchup again, I mean I
feel like so many eyes and attention will be on
this series, specifically because of the history of the two
teams this season. Is there any pressure that you feel
going into the playoffs in this round one matchup against
the Indiana Fever.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
Oh No, I don't think it's any pressure.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
I think it's the playoffs, So I think it's just
pressure in the playoffs in general, you know, like just
throughout the whole WNBA. You lose, you're out. So I
think that's kind of the pressure within itself. But as
far as just playing Indiana and this series, it doesn't
matter who we play. I feel like it would have
played Phoenix because it was a possibility we played them
(05:38):
Diana possibly last year, so.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
That you know that whole storyline.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
So I think it's just the storylines of the media
that brings a little bit of extra attention. But for
us in our locker room, we're just focusing on us.
And how like I said, taking a game by.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Game, DJN Carrington to be has certainly made a case
for Defensive Player of the Year, but you know, historically
those types of awards goes to the bigs of the
WU and I'm excited to see her play against the
Indiana Fever in particular because she's been one of the
best defenders on Caitlyn Clark. How does the team plan
(06:12):
to just handle that assignment of you know, trying to
neutralize Caitlyn and and figure everything else on.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Of course it's a team effort. Of course, an Age
are all the assignment every time we've played them. But
I mean, we can't be just her by herself. She's
a dynamic player. She gets everybody involved, so we have
to all uh kind of figure out how to tamer
a little bit, but not think May and night and
in night out. She takes the challenge your guarding the
best guard players that we have, you know, Lissa kind
(06:41):
of takes the challenge your guard and the best you know,
post players. So we's likely that we got to you know,
great defenders in those two positions, which which is great.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
But I'm pretty sure she'll be ready. Uh, this is
what she do.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
She's been doing that all season, so uh, now that
the regulars season over, she knows she has to take
it up a notch in the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
What was that like to just be able to celebrate
the tenure anniversary of winning a championship with Phoenix Mercury.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Oh man, it was.
Speaker 4 (07:05):
Just super special to see some of the players that
I haven't seen in what I mean, since we won,
so just to be back there, I wish I could
have stayed a little longer to celebrate, but we flew
out to Vegas the same night, but just to be
back there at that team, and it really brought back
memories of how, you know, like everybody just kind of
put theirselves to the side and then we came together.
(07:25):
We won like sixteen games in a row, and it
was a special group, and Diana let us each and
every night. And I was just telling the media that
I wish it was social media around then, because she's
been doing this, the stuff that they split through on
Instagram and Twitter every single night that all these players
are doing.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Diana has done this her whole.
Speaker 4 (07:45):
Career, and the new fans having you know, seen it,
didn't get to experience it. But I'm just so honored,
so blessed that I got to step on that court
with her every single night, because I literally felt like
we would never lose as long as we have her,
and how she got all us involved and you know,
gave everybody confident and when it was a big shot
on the line, it was like, you know where the
ball was going, and she knew that and everybody in
(08:05):
the gym knew that, but it didn't matter, and it
just I'm just so blessed to be able to say
I step on the court with her and actually won
with her, and now she's forever family to me.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
I know, and you know, Phoenix have kind of sort
of been hinting at the res.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
I know, if this is it.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
What do you say about Diana Tarazzi's legacy and how
she's She's been able to make an impact on women's basketball.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
All of this is because of her. I don't have
too much to say, but she's the goat. She's literally
the goat of this thing, and google her. People really
need to do that research and google her. You to
her and see the things that she's done, just like
you and all of these newcomers that are doing this night.
Not taking anything away from them, because these rookies are amazing,
but if you really want to see someone turn the
(08:53):
w BA to something special and stepped that legacy and
actually the goat, she you better need to.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Go of this coming up after the break, more from
Connecticut Sons to want to Bonnor on a case you
missed it With Christina Williams, you talk so much about
(09:24):
how Diana Tarazzi inspired you as a veteran in this league.
What is something that you've done to help like the
younger players succeed in this league.
Speaker 4 (09:33):
Oh man, I hope that they answered this the same
way that I answered about her. But I think not
just for me, especially with me still playing. I hope
they see how much I love the game. And I
just want everybody to feel welcome and comfortable wherever I am,
whether that was in Phoenix, I'll say I was a
vet probably like six or seven years I went and
(09:56):
in Connecticut. Whenever anybody come into Connecticut, I hope they
feel that they're wanting, They're they're they're loved, and they're needed.
They're here for a reason. And I think that's that's
very important. Whether you make the team or not, I'm
gonna treat you the same, and I think that's just
big for me.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
And then I'm gonna, like you said, I don't.
Speaker 4 (10:13):
Say much when I see stuff on the court, I
of course, I said, And but I hope that when
I step on the court they see how hard I
work and how hard I played. I try not to
miss a game, I try not to miss a practice,
and yeah, I'm present and if they ever need anything,
I'm always here, and I'm.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
I'm like the mama bear of the team.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
So I just want everybody to feel good and very
appreciative and wanting in this league in general, because it's
hard to stay in this league. So once you get here,
you have some best to just kind of like do
their own thing. But I'm the one that, like, I
want everybody to get feel confident.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Now, is it true that you gifted rookies or newer
players with bags or was that a.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
R I got gifted of that?
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Okay, someone who gifted you the bag.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Diana gifted me a bag. Okay, was only working on
the team. Let me start by that.
Speaker 4 (11:01):
And you know, everybody at that time hand all the
designer bags, and I'm coming in.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
And I had my already under the backpack that I
used to carry it every.
Speaker 4 (11:08):
Day, and like, you don't have the money yet, and
she told me that if I went out and got
a double double that she will give me a bag,
a designer bag, and I'm just like okay.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
So I did it. I went out that game and
got it, and the next morning she called me.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
It was like ready, like meet me here, meet me
at the mall and she let me pick out any
bag that I wanted and forever special to me.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
I couldn't believe it. I'm like, I'm like shy, I'm like, wow,
you're really doing this and uh it's forever. I still
have the bag. It's special to me.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
So yeah, what what designer bag was it?
Speaker 4 (11:38):
It was light.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
All you went all in like I'm going to Louis.
Speaker 4 (11:47):
Like, I mean, I didn't know too much about designer
at the time. I didn't have any so I didn't
even know what store to really go to. And she
took me to that store and told me to pick
out anything I wanted and it was pretty special to
me and I I mean, yeah, it was cool.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
Now from your rookie year and transitioning into you now
being a vent in the league, I've loved to watch
the evolution of your style, especially in the tunnel. I
had a chance to speak to your fiance shemate Alyssa
Thomas and Phoenix at All Stars.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
She told me about the Slam cover and how.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Like that's all She's like, that's all dB, Like I
just chill, waid back, that's all you. Both of you
have been killing the tunnel fits all season. What's the
secret behind the sauce?
Speaker 4 (12:29):
I'm into fashion, so I had to get her on board,
you know, actually do it because she literally is the
most chill, laid back to your work sweats every day
all day, you know. So I'm just like, okay, this year,
I think we got to participate a little bit, like
let's just stop.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Let's do it. It's fun.
Speaker 4 (12:43):
It's something different, and I feel like you give you
a different energy about it because you know, you play
basketball so long, you do the same routine every single time.
So I'm just like, let's do some different, let's stress up.
So we hired a stylist that help us put together
on some pieces or sometimes we'll put together our own pieces.
And it's been fun and I like to get creative
and I try to get her to step outside her box.
(13:04):
And she said, I really really good. She probably addressing
up more than me lately. So listen, I'll be today
And I'm like, oh, I don't think So She's like,
why not.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
You're the one I wanted to do this. So I think.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
The Connecticut son is hands down one of the best
stressed teams in the league. From you and at to
Djna Carrington and Olivia y'all. Definitely y'all definitely put putting
that ish on, as they say. I also I also
was able to admire, like you, just being a fan
at the Olympics in Paris and cheering houtalism. What was
that like to take that all in?
Speaker 4 (13:37):
Oh? Man, I was stressful. It was my first time
been in the stands and it was so stressful. But
I was so happy that I was ever to be there,
you know, throughout the entire thing and support her because
this is the biggest.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Stage in the world.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
And I don't know if there's pressure for them, but
it was pressure for me just watching it, and especially
that last game, I'm in the stance, I'm.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Like, oh my niece, like, oh my god, you know,
like cheering. But it was a lot of fun.
Speaker 4 (13:59):
It was good, you know, when they had the days
off that we can go out and do something besides
you know, basketball, because man, it was just being behind
the scenes and seeing them how hard they had to
work and how focused they had to be.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
I don't think I ever been a part of anything
like that.
Speaker 4 (14:15):
I mean, I've been a part of WNBA championship teams,
but to see them play for an Olympic gold medal
and how focused then tune in they had to be,
especially coming in with a month, what they had a
month to prepare and you know, like learn each other
and man, the team's really trying to beat them night
and night out.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
It was it was something to see And I.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
Was stressed the whole time, so I'm trying to show
my stress to her and be a comfort. But I
was so happy to be there last one.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
For you, as someone who's a mom an athlete, how
do you find balance with you know, your family, work
life balance, but also just looking ahead as a professional athlete,
what's that experience like just having your daughters take it
all in with you on this journey in order?
Speaker 4 (14:59):
Again, the older I get for them, it's been pretty
cool for them to see and and understand it a
little bit more.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
And uh that was like mama out a game.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
Then if they're not here, they're trying to watch. But
for me, the older I get, the heart is for
me to be away from them, especially when they start school.
So like now we're you know, in the grind of
the season, they can't be here as much because they're
in school and they are not missing school.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
I don't play that, so yeah, it's just of course
I miss them.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
But it's been really really cool that they're older and
they get to understand, like their mom plays basketball in
the WNBA and it's they call me and they give
me superpowers before the game and.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
That's just really sweet. And I miss them a lot.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
But yeah, the older I get, I'm just like, man,
I think I want to be at home with my
kids all day every day now.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
I absolutely love that.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
Do wanna thank you so much for joining us this
week on In Case You Missed It with Christina Williams.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Here on iHeart Ready. It's been a pleasure.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
Chat with you.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
Thank you, But that's gonna do it for this episode
of In Case You Missed It with Christina Williams, I
just want to thank Dewana Bonder again for coming in
and hanging out with us. Please don't forget to rate,
review and subscribe to the podcast. Coming up next week,
we have Connecticut Sons sideline reporter Tareka postle Frisby joining
(16:14):
us talk more WNBA playoffs.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
See you again next time.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
In Case You Missed It with Christina Williams is an
iHeart Women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports
and Entertainment. You can find us on the iHeartRadio app,
Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.
In Case You Missed It with Christina Williams is an
iHeart Woman's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports
and Entertainment. Welcome back to a special edition of In
Case You Missed It with Christina Williams here on the
iHeartRadio app. And I'm super excited about my next guest
(00:22):
for this week. She's a two time WNBA champion and
a six time WNBA All Star.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Please welcome to the show none other than Do Wanna,
Bonna Do Wanna. Thank you so much for being here,
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
All right, I'm gonna dive right in. So this is
your fifteenth WNBA season. What makes this season so special
for you?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Oh man?
Speaker 4 (00:44):
The fans. The fans has been amazing. The viewership that
we are getting right now has been insane. It's the
first year, you know, since my w maker that I've
seen it like this. So it's just been pretty special
to see you where it was to where it is now.
So very appreciative that and very blessed to be playing
right now at this time, in this moment and still
be able to produce a couple of minutes on the
(01:06):
court in this in this day and.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Age fifteen seasons into the w and you have the
opportunity to move to the third on the all time
WNBA list for games played and in your numbers again
to remain consistent in your thirties.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
How do you explain your longevity in the league.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Oh, yes, tough, of course, because you know there's injuries.
That's nice that I'm like tired, so i can't get
out of bed. But I've read a lot of my
my path and I had I always told people I
had a great blueprint and mimicking Diana. She's the best
at the longevity and being successful and still producing to
(01:47):
this day twenty years there for her, so I kind
of had her to see what it takes day in
and day out. Like I said, my first year, she
was the first one in the gym and in the
last one to leave. So it's just like I saw
the hard work and I'm like, Okay, this is what
I need to do to stay in this league and
be successful. This is what I'm going to do, and
so I created a lot to her.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
I want to go into the Connecticut Sun because you
guys have punched the third overall seed in the w
NBA playoffs and in this round one you will base
the Indiana Fever as an opponent. What are you seeing
from this Fever team that you know will make the
Connecticut sun rise to the occasion in this round one matchup.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
They're playing that best basketball right now and it's kind
of great to see that.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
They push the pace.
Speaker 4 (02:29):
They're probably the fastest paced team in the WNBA right
now and they get the ball out really quick. They
have two dynamic scores and Kelsey Mitchell and and Caitlin Clark,
so of course that's their main focus. But they're best
playing really well together. They hot right now and good
thing they're coming to our homecret because it's really really
hard playing there, so starting here will be great.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
And just trying to, you know, figure out where we
can be better to be them.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
What has been the shift for this team in the
second half of the season, especially with the addition of
Marina Mabriy.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Yeah, we have to out a lot of things and
we're still figuring out.
Speaker 4 (03:01):
When you add a big piece, it shift things, especially
in the middle of season when you are like already
in a routine and you already have you know where,
you know where your shots coming from, and you know
what players ran for who and what. But then you
add a piece where you have to run plays to
her too, and then uh so it shifts everybody, uh differently,
not in a bad way.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
We just got to figure out where you need to
be on the court now.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
And uh, I think people roads change drastfully, and it
was it was different for our team. It was. It
takes a lot of adjustment and I'm just super proud
because we handled it so well. Of course we dropped
some games, but and I think that's okay because we
learned a lot from those games that we drop. And
I don't think if we, you know, continue to win
out or we won out the whole second and half
of the season, I think we would have been in
(03:45):
the boot, awaken for playoffs. So the fact that we did,
you know, drop a couple of games and trying to
understand how we can play and learn from each other
is it's been huge. And uh we still figured it out.
We got one more game to do it. But when
playoffs comes, is hitting the ground running?
Speaker 1 (04:00):
What do you think is the different mode that the
Connecticut sign kind of switch on when playoffs come? Because
this is a team that's time and time again, it's
been very close to you know, that step of winning
a WNBA championship.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
What mode or gear do you guys switch on in
the playoffs?
Speaker 4 (04:13):
We haven't won, we haven't won anything. So if we
don't have a choice but to continue to be hungry,
we are not satisfied. Ever, you can't be satisfied when
you keep you know, losing, you keep getting that closer.
I think it just makes you hungry and hungry, and
so just trying to figure out how we can finally
get over the hump. And we've got to learn how
to take things one game at a time. Of course,
we're a team that or you can easily look ahead
(04:36):
and be like, okay, well when you play this person
in this round, you know, but every team is good
this year. You see, every game every single night is
competitive no matter what. So just understanding that we have
to take this thing in quarter by quarter really and
game by game to be successful and hopefully get over hump.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
But we will forever be hungry. And so we get one.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Looking at that round one matchup again, I mean I
feel like so many eyes and attention will be on
this series, specifically because of the history of the two
teams this season. Is there any pressure that you feel
going into the playoffs in this round one matchup against
the Indiana Fever.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
Oh No, I don't think it's any pressure.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
I think it's the playoffs, So I think it's just
pressure in the playoffs in general, you know, like just
throughout the whole WNBA. You lose, you're out. So I
think that's kind of the pressure within itself. But as
far as just playing Indiana and this series, it doesn't
matter who we play. I feel like it would have
played Phoenix because it was a possibility we played them
(05:38):
Diana possibly last year, so.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
That you know that whole storyline.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
So I think it's just the storylines of the media
that brings a little bit of extra attention. But for
us in our locker room, we're just focusing on us.
And how like I said, taking a game by.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Game, DJN Carrington to be has certainly made a case
for Defensive Player of the Year, but you know, historically
those types of awards goes to the bigs of the
WU and I'm excited to see her play against the
Indiana Fever in particular because she's been one of the
best defenders on Caitlyn Clark. How does the team plan
(06:12):
to just handle that assignment of you know, trying to
neutralize Caitlyn and and figure everything else on.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Of course it's a team effort. Of course, an Age
are all the assignment every time we've played them. But
I mean, we can't be just her by herself. She's
a dynamic player. She gets everybody involved, so we have
to all uh kind of figure out how to tamer
a little bit, but not think May and night and
in night out. She takes the challenge your guarding the
best guard players that we have, you know, Lissa kind
(06:41):
of takes the challenge your guard and the best you know,
post players. So we's likely that we got to you know,
great defenders in those two positions, which which is great.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
But I'm pretty sure she'll be ready. Uh, this is
what she do.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
She's been doing that all season, so uh, now that
the regulars season over, she knows she has to take
it up a notch in the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
What was that like to just be able to celebrate
the tenure anniversary of winning a championship with Phoenix Mercury.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Oh man, it was.
Speaker 4 (07:05):
Just super special to see some of the players that
I haven't seen in what I mean, since we won,
so just to be back there, I wish I could
have stayed a little longer to celebrate, but we flew
out to Vegas the same night, but just to be
back there at that team, and it really brought back
memories of how, you know, like everybody just kind of
put theirselves to the side and then we came together.
(07:25):
We won like sixteen games in a row, and it
was a special group, and Diana let us each and
every night. And I was just telling the media that
I wish it was social media around then, because she's
been doing this, the stuff that they split through on
Instagram and Twitter every single night that all these players
are doing.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Diana has done this her whole.
Speaker 4 (07:45):
Career, and the new fans having you know, seen it,
didn't get to experience it. But I'm just so honored,
so blessed that I got to step on that court
with her every single night, because I literally felt like
we would never lose as long as we have her,
and how she got all us involved and you know,
gave everybody confident and when it was a big shot
on the line, it was like, you know where the
ball was going, and she knew that and everybody in
(08:05):
the gym knew that, but it didn't matter, and it
just I'm just so blessed to be able to say
I step on the court with her and actually won
with her, and now she's forever family to me.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
I know, and you know, Phoenix have kind of sort
of been hinting at the res.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
I know, if this is it.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
What do you say about Diana Tarazzi's legacy and how
she's She's been able to make an impact on women's basketball.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
All of this is because of her. I don't have
too much to say, but she's the goat. She's literally
the goat of this thing, and google her. People really
need to do that research and google her. You to
her and see the things that she's done, just like
you and all of these newcomers that are doing this night.
Not taking anything away from them, because these rookies are amazing,
but if you really want to see someone turn the
(08:53):
w BA to something special and stepped that legacy and
actually the goat, she you better need to.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Go of this coming up after the break, more from
Connecticut Sons to want to Bonnor on a case you
missed it With Christina Williams, you talk so much about
(09:24):
how Diana Tarazzi inspired you as a veteran in this league.
What is something that you've done to help like the
younger players succeed in this league.
Speaker 4 (09:33):
Oh man, I hope that they answered this the same
way that I answered about her. But I think not
just for me, especially with me still playing. I hope
they see how much I love the game. And I
just want everybody to feel welcome and comfortable wherever I am,
whether that was in Phoenix, I'll say I was a
vet probably like six or seven years I went and
(09:56):
in Connecticut. Whenever anybody come into Connecticut, I hope they
feel that they're wanting, They're they're they're loved, and they're needed.
They're here for a reason. And I think that's that's
very important. Whether you make the team or not, I'm
gonna treat you the same, and I think that's just
big for me.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
And then I'm gonna, like you said, I don't.
Speaker 4 (10:13):
Say much when I see stuff on the court, I
of course, I said, And but I hope that when
I step on the court they see how hard I
work and how hard I played. I try not to
miss a game, I try not to miss a practice,
and yeah, I'm present and if they ever need anything,
I'm always here, and I'm.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
I'm like the mama bear of the team.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
So I just want everybody to feel good and very
appreciative and wanting in this league in general, because it's
hard to stay in this league. So once you get here,
you have some best to just kind of like do
their own thing. But I'm the one that, like, I
want everybody to get feel confident.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Now, is it true that you gifted rookies or newer
players with bags or was that a.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
R I got gifted of that?
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Okay, someone who gifted you the bag.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Diana gifted me a bag. Okay, was only working on
the team. Let me start by that.
Speaker 4 (11:01):
And you know, everybody at that time hand all the
designer bags, and I'm coming in.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
And I had my already under the backpack that I
used to carry it every.
Speaker 4 (11:08):
Day, and like, you don't have the money yet, and
she told me that if I went out and got
a double double that she will give me a bag,
a designer bag, and I'm just like okay.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
So I did it. I went out that game and
got it, and the next morning she called me.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
It was like ready, like meet me here, meet me
at the mall and she let me pick out any
bag that I wanted and forever special to me.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
I couldn't believe it. I'm like, I'm like shy, I'm like, wow,
you're really doing this and uh it's forever. I still
have the bag. It's special to me.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
So yeah, what what designer bag was it?
Speaker 4 (11:38):
It was light.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
All you went all in like I'm going to Louis.
Speaker 4 (11:47):
Like, I mean, I didn't know too much about designer
at the time. I didn't have any so I didn't
even know what store to really go to. And she
took me to that store and told me to pick
out anything I wanted and it was pretty special to
me and I I mean, yeah, it was cool.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
Now from your rookie year and transitioning into you now
being a vent in the league, I've loved to watch
the evolution of your style, especially in the tunnel. I
had a chance to speak to your fiance shemate Alyssa
Thomas and Phoenix at All Stars.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
She told me about the Slam cover and how.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Like that's all She's like, that's all dB, Like I
just chill, waid back, that's all you. Both of you
have been killing the tunnel fits all season. What's the
secret behind the sauce?
Speaker 4 (12:29):
I'm into fashion, so I had to get her on board,
you know, actually do it because she literally is the
most chill, laid back to your work sweats every day
all day, you know. So I'm just like, okay, this year,
I think we got to participate a little bit, like
let's just stop.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Let's do it. It's fun.
Speaker 4 (12:43):
It's something different, and I feel like you give you
a different energy about it because you know, you play
basketball so long, you do the same routine every single time.
So I'm just like, let's do some different, let's stress up.
So we hired a stylist that help us put together
on some pieces or sometimes we'll put together our own pieces.
And it's been fun and I like to get creative
and I try to get her to step outside her box.
(13:04):
And she said, I really really good. She probably addressing
up more than me lately. So listen, I'll be today
And I'm like, oh, I don't think So She's like,
why not.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
You're the one I wanted to do this. So I think.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
The Connecticut son is hands down one of the best
stressed teams in the league. From you and at to
Djna Carrington and Olivia y'all. Definitely y'all definitely put putting
that ish on, as they say. I also I also
was able to admire, like you, just being a fan
at the Olympics in Paris and cheering houtalism. What was
that like to take that all in?
Speaker 4 (13:37):
Oh? Man, I was stressful. It was my first time
been in the stands and it was so stressful. But
I was so happy that I was ever to be there,
you know, throughout the entire thing and support her because
this is the biggest.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Stage in the world.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
And I don't know if there's pressure for them, but
it was pressure for me just watching it, and especially
that last game, I'm in the stance, I'm.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Like, oh my niece, like, oh my god, you know,
like cheering. But it was a lot of fun.
Speaker 4 (13:59):
It was good, you know, when they had the days
off that we can go out and do something besides
you know, basketball, because man, it was just being behind
the scenes and seeing them how hard they had to
work and how focused they had to be.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
I don't think I ever been a part of anything
like that.
Speaker 4 (14:15):
I mean, I've been a part of WNBA championship teams,
but to see them play for an Olympic gold medal
and how focused then tune in they had to be,
especially coming in with a month, what they had a
month to prepare and you know, like learn each other
and man, the team's really trying to beat them night
and night out.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
It was it was something to see And I.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
Was stressed the whole time, so I'm trying to show
my stress to her and be a comfort. But I
was so happy to be there last one.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
For you, as someone who's a mom an athlete, how
do you find balance with you know, your family, work
life balance, but also just looking ahead as a professional athlete,
what's that experience like just having your daughters take it
all in with you on this journey in order?
Speaker 4 (14:59):
Again, the older I get for them, it's been pretty
cool for them to see and and understand it a
little bit more.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
And uh that was like mama out a game.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
Then if they're not here, they're trying to watch. But
for me, the older I get, the heart is for
me to be away from them, especially when they start school.
So like now we're you know, in the grind of
the season, they can't be here as much because they're
in school and they are not missing school.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
I don't play that, so yeah, it's just of course
I miss them.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
But it's been really really cool that they're older and
they get to understand, like their mom plays basketball in
the WNBA and it's they call me and they give
me superpowers before the game and.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
That's just really sweet. And I miss them a lot.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
But yeah, the older I get, I'm just like, man,
I think I want to be at home with my
kids all day every day now.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
I absolutely love that.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
Do wanna thank you so much for joining us this
week on In Case You Missed It with Christina Williams.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Here on iHeart Ready. It's been a pleasure.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
Chat with you.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
Thank you, But that's gonna do it for this episode
of In Case You Missed It with Christina Williams, I
just want to thank Dewana Bonder again for coming in
and hanging out with us. Please don't forget to rate,
review and subscribe to the podcast. Coming up next week,
we have Connecticut Sons sideline reporter Tareka postle Frisby joining
(16:14):
us talk more WNBA playoffs.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
See you again next time.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
In Case You Missed It with Christina Williams is an
iHeart Women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports
and Entertainment. You can find us on the iHeartRadio app,
Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Host
Khristina Williams
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