​Brittney Griner’s reaction to DeWanna Bonner breaking Mercury record says it all originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Brittney Griner’s name is all over the Phoenix Mercury record book, but one of her most impressive franchise marks now belongs to DeWanna Bonner. Bonner officially passed Griner to become the Mercury’s all-time leading rebounder during Phoenix’s 72-63 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Sunday. The milestone came with a fitting twist: Griner was inside PHX Arena and watched her former teammate take the record while playing against her.There was no resentment from the former Mercury star. Griner shared a lighthearted moment with Bonner after the record fell, laughing with the veteran forward as Phoenix celebrated another piece of franchise history.For two players whose careers helped define different eras of Mercury basketball, the exchange said everything.DeWanna Bonner passes Brittney Griner in Mercury historyBonner entered Sunday within striking distance of Griner’s franchise record of 2,322 rebounds. The 38-year-old collected nine rebounds against Connecticut, moving past Griner and into sole possession of first place on the Mercury’s career list.Phoenix recognized the achievement on social media shortly after Bonner secured the record.“DeWanna Bonner just became the Phoenix Mercury’s all-time leader in rebounds,” the Mercury announced. “Congratulations DB!”DeWanna Bonner just became the Phoenix Mercury’s all-time leader in rebounds.Congratulations DB! 💜 pic.twitter.com/PS5G05S1FU— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) July 20, 2026Bonner also delivered one of her best offensive performances of the season, scoring a season-high 21 points to lead the Mercury past the Sun. Her milestone came during a game in which Phoenix was attempting to end a five-game losing streak.Griner finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds for Connecticut in her return to Phoenix. The two stars were briefly able to acknowledge the moment together, with Griner smiling and laughing with Bonner. It was a fitting response from a player who spent more than a decade helping establish the standard Bonner eventually surpassed.Bonner’s return created a path to franchise recordBonner’s route to the top of the rebounding list was hardly straightforward.Phoenix selected her with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2009 WNBA Draft. She spent her first 10 seasons with the Mercury, winning championships in 2009 and 2014 while emerging as one of the league’s most versatile forwards.Bonner left Phoenix for the Connecticut Sun before the 2020 season and remained there through 2024. She then signed with the Indiana Fever ahead of the 2025 campaign, but the partnership lasted only nine games.After being waived by Indiana, Bonner returned to the Mercury and resumed climbing the franchise leaderboards.That reunion eventually gave her enough time to catch Griner.Bonner is