After sitting out the 2017 WNBA season DeWanna Bonner is back.

Phoenix Mercury fans were excited that DeWanna Bonner is back. By the look of the game, Bonner is more excited to be back. After sitting out last season to give birth to twins, Bonner has returned to the Mercury.

If her first game back is any sort of indication, the Phoenix Mercury forward is going to be massive for the Mercury. In her return Bonner collected a 17 point 12 rebound double-double.

While Diana Taurasi created history by being the first WNBA player to reach 1,000 career 3-point makes and scored a game high 26 points, Bonner was the difference. The Mercury struggled all 2017 to find the consistent third scoring option. This game Bonner provided this and then some.

She did struggle from the floor a little, going 6 of 17 but that was mainly missing 3-point atempts where she was 1-of-8. When she got the ball incide the arc, Bonner was 5-of-9 and could not be ignored.

In her 12 rebounds, Bonner was only able to collect one offensive board. IT was an important one though, she passed the ball to Taurasi who made the bucket at a high pressure time for the Mercury. Great players seem to pop up and do what is needed when they need to do it.

However, it is not just her work on the offensive end which made a difference. She collected 11 defensive rebounds which was almost double that of Brittney Griner. Her three steams were crucial and showed how much she was able to pressure the ball-handler. It also shows her ability to read the play.

Bonner just adds an edge to this team which is going to be crucial moving forward this seaosn. Just by having her on the floor, Taurasi and Griner are going to have more space to do their thing.

If you watched the elimination series last year, the Los Angeles Sparks were able to double both Taurasi and Griner, effectively stifling the Mercury offense. By adding Bonner back into this mix, teams have to actively defend three players, not two.

Given that this was the first game of the season, the Mercury have lots to work on. However, this is going to mean that when these veterans have a little more time together, this team is going to be one of the biggest challengers to the Sparks/Minnesota Lynx dominance in recent years.

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