Mercury's Bonner to miss season due to pregnancy

Published Mar. 8, 2017 1:45 p.m. ET

PHOENIX --The Phoenix Mercury announced Wednesday that forward DeWanna Bonner, a three-time winner of the WNA's Sixth Woman of the Year Award, will miss the 2017 season due to pregnancy.

"I am so happy to announce that I’m expecting," Bonner said in a statement released by the Mercury. "I have always wanted a family and I have looked forward to this chapter of my life. While I am disappointed to miss the 2017 season with my Mercury family, this was the right decision for me right now."

Bonner said she expects to return for the 2018 season.

Mercury general manager Jim Pitman and head coach Sandy Brondello issued a statement in support of Bonner: "We also appreciate how open DeWanna has been recently about this possibility in order to help us plan to put the best team on the floor in 2017. She is one of the best players in the WNBA and we look forward to her return in 2018 and to having her as a member of the Mercury for years to come."

Bonner has averaged 13.7 points per game in eight seasons with the Mercury. She averaged 14.5 points and 5.4 rebounds last season while starting 24 of 34 games.