Veteran Dream Player DeWanna Bonner Stops Teammates' Taunts After Playoff Win
Bonner intervened as Angel Reese and Allisha Gray gestured towards the Mystics following the Atlanta Dream's second-round playoff victory.
Atlanta Dream veteran DeWanna Bonner stepped in to prevent teammates Angel Reese and Allisha Gray from taunting the Washington Mystics after the Dream secured a playoff sweep on Wednesday night. As the final whistle blew on Atlanta's 93-75 Game 2 victory, Reese and Gray raised their hands to wave goodbye to the Mystics players on the court. Bonner, a 19-season WNBA veteran, quickly intervened, pulling their hands down.
Bonner then gathered her teammates, appearing to de-escalate the situation. Her actions were noticed and appreciated by fans on social media, with many praising her veteran presence and focus on the upcoming semifinal series.
The No. 4 seed Dream defeated the No. 5 Mystics by 15 and 18 points in their two playoff games, marking their first series win since 2021. Atlanta had been eliminated in the first round in each of the three preceding seasons.
In the deciding Game 2, Reese contributed 15 points and seven rebounds, while Gray added 22 points and four steals. Bonner scored seven points off the bench in 14 minutes. She joined the Dream in August after a contract buyout with the Phoenix Mercury.
The Atlanta Dream are set to face the New York Liberty in the best-of-five semifinal series, which begins Sunday, October 4. The franchise has not reached the WNBA Finals since 2013.