Auburn in the WNBA: Week 5 Recap - AuburnTigers.com - Auburn University Official Athletic Site

Auburn in the WNBA: Week 5 Recap DeWanna Bonner earns top rookie honors

DeWanna Bonner

July 9, 2009

AUBURN - Former Auburn women's basketball standouts DeWanna Bonner (2005-09) and Le'Coe Willingham (1999-2004) helped lead their Phoenix Mercury to the best record in the WNBA's western conference this past week.

The Mercury went 2-0 over the course of the week with victories over the Los Angeles Sparks, 104-89, and the Chicago Sky, 90-70. The wins give the Mercury a 9-4 overall record and a half game lead on the Minnesota Lynx in the Western Conference standings.

In the road win at Los Angeles, Bonner recorded her third double-double of the year with a 17-point, 10-rebound performance. The Birmingham native followed that up with a 10-point, six-rebound effort in the victory over the Sky.

The three double-doubles rank her second in the league and leads all rookies. In fact, Bonner is the only rookie this season to record a double-double.

Bonner is now averaging 11.4 points per game along with a team leading, 6.2 rebounds per game. Both averages land her near the top of the league overall and among rookies. The 11.4 points per game is 31st in the league and second among rookies, while the 6.2 rebounds are good for 16th in the league and first in the rookie class.

For her efforts, Bonner re-gained the top spot in the WNBA Adidas Rookie Report Rankings. Ranking second is Detroit's Shavonte Zellous with top overall draft pick Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta) in third. Minnesota's Renee Montgomery came in fourth while Washington's Marissa Coleman placed fifth.

Willingham continued her steady 2009 campaign with two solid games this past week. In the victory over the Sparks, the Augusta, Ga., native tallied eight points along with three rebounds. In Wednesday's home win over Chicago, Willingham scored 11 points while pulling down four boards.

Willingham's week moves her per game averages to 10.3 points and 3.7 rebounds. The 10.3 points per game is fourth on the team and 39th in the league.

Phoenix, who is riding a three game winning streak, plays back-to-back contests versus Western Conference rival Sacramento this upcoming week. The first takes place at Arco Arena in Sacramento on Saturday at 9 p.m. The Mercury will then play host to the Monarchs on Wednesday, with an afternoon tip at 2:30 p.m. That game will be televised nationally on NBA-TV.