Going into this week, I was already pretty confident that the Atlanta Dream could make a deep playoff run.
That confidence just went through the roof.
DeWanna Bonner is joining the Atlanta Dream for the remainder of the season, and I don’t think you can overstate how important this addition could be as Atlanta prepares for the playoffs.
The Dream didn’t need another superstar. They didn’t need to completely restructure the roster.
They needed one more piece.
And somehow, they may have found exactly the type of player this roster has been missing all season.
Here are three reasons why the addition of DeWanna Bonner could be massive for the Dream.
1. She Fills Atlanta’s Biggest Need
I’ve been saying this since the beginning of the season.
The Dream are deep.
They have guards. They have bigs. They have stars. They have young players capable of contributing.
But if there was one obvious weakness on this roster, it was wing depth—specifically a bigger wing who can shoot and defend.
That’s DeWanna Bonner.
At 6-foot-4, Bonner gives Karl Smesko another long, versatile player who can play multiple positions.
She can come off the bench and knock down perimeter shots.
She can defend with her length.
She can rebound.
She can play alongside different combinations of Atlanta’s starters.
And perhaps most importantly, she doesn’t need the basketball in her hands every possession to impact the game.
That’s exactly what this team needed.
Think about some of the potential lineups Atlanta can deploy now.
Bonner can play alongside Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray on the perimeter.
She can play the four alongside Angel Reese.
She can give Atlanta additional size when Smesko wants to switch defensively.
She can also provide scoring when some of the starters go to the bench.
What a pickup.
Atlanta spent much of the season searching for another versatile wing.
They may have just found one at the perfect time.
2. Championship Experience Matters
This might be even more important than the basketball fit.
The Dream have talent.
But playoff basketball is different.
Possessions become more valuable. Rotations become shorter. Teams know exactly what you’re trying to do. And when a game comes down to the final two minutes, experience matters.
There aren’t many players in WNBA history with more postseason experience than DeWanna Bonner.
Bonner has been part of championship teams and has spent nearly her entire career playing meaningful basketball. She knows what playoff pressure feels like. She knows how quickly a series can change. She knows what championship-level preparation looks like.
That’s incredibly valuable for an Atlanta team mixing veterans with several young players experiencing major postseason roles.
Players like Angel Reese, Madina Okot and Isobel Borlase are enormously talented.
But Bonner has already been there.
When the Dream encounter adversity in the playoffs—and they will—having another veteran in the locker room who understands those moments could be invaluable.
Atlanta didn’t just add another basketball player.
They added someone who knows what winning in the postseason requires.
3. The Perfect Insurance Policy for Brionna Jones
This is where the timing of the signing becomes even more important.
Brionna Jones went down late in the season with a leg injury, creating uncertainty around Atlanta’s frontcourt as the playoffs approach.
Hopefully Jones is able to return and contribute.
But the Dream can’t simply assume everything will go according to plan.
They needed insurance.
Bonner gives them exactly that.
She’s obviously a different player than Jones, so Atlanta isn’t replacing Bri’s interior presence one-for-one.
Instead, Bonner gives Smesko another way to construct the frontcourt.
And the potential pairing that really intrigues me is:
DeWanna Bonner + Angel Reese.
Think about the versatility.
Reese gives you physicality, rebounding, playmaking and interior presence.
Bonner gives you length, shooting and perimeter versatility.
Defensively, both can create problems.
Offensively, Bonner’s ability to stretch the floor could create additional space for Reese to operate inside.
If Jones misses time or has to work her way back into the rotation, Atlanta doesn’t have to panic.
They can simply play differently.
That’s incredibly important heading into the postseason.
Bonner Could Unlock Some Really Interesting Lineups
This is where Karl Smesko can have some fun.
Imagine a lineup featuring:
Rhyne Howard
Allisha Gray
DeWanna Bonner
Angel Reese
Brionna Jones
Look at the size.
Look at the defensive versatility.
Look at the rebounding.
Now imagine going smaller and playing Bonner at the four next to Reese.
Suddenly Atlanta has shooting at multiple positions while maintaining tremendous length defensively.
That’s the type of versatility that becomes incredibly valuable during a playoff series because opponents are constantly making adjustments.
If one lineup isn’t working, Atlanta now has another answer.
The Dream Didn’t Need a Blockbuster
This might be my favorite part of the move.
Atlanta didn’t need to make some massive trade.
They already have stars.
Rhyne Howard is playing like one of the best two-way players in basketball.
Allisha Gray remains an elite contributor.
Angel Reese has continued developing into a franchise cornerstone.
Jordin Canada provides veteran guard play.
And hopefully Brionna Jones will return to the frontcourt.
The Dream simply needed another high-level role player who could complement those pieces.
Bonner doesn’t have to come to Atlanta and average 20 points.
She doesn’t need 15 shots.
If she can defend, rebound, knock down open threes and give Atlanta quality playoff minutes, she could completely change this team’s ceiling.
My Confidence in This Team Just Changed
Before this move, I thought Atlanta could make a deep playoff run.
Now?
I think the Dream have a legitimate chance to win the whole thing.
That’s how much I like this addition.
Not because DeWanna Bonner suddenly becomes Atlanta’s best player.
She doesn’t need to be.
It’s because she addresses weaknesses without disrupting what already works.
Those are often the additions that make the biggest difference for championship teams.
Final Thoughts
The DeWanna Bonner signing checks almost every box for Atlanta.
Need another wing? Check.
Need more shooting? Check.
Need size and defensive versatility? Check.
Need postseason experience? Absolutely.
Need additional frontcourt options while Brionna Jones recovers? Check.
This feels like one of those moves that could look significantly more important a month from now than it does today.
Atlanta already had the stars.
Atlanta already had the talent.
Atlanta already had a team capable of making noise in the playoffs.
Now they’ve added a proven veteran who fills arguably their biggest remaining need.
The Atlanta Dream were already dangerous.
With DeWanna Bonner?
They might have just become one of the scariest teams in the WNBA playoffs.
