Auburn retires DeWanna Bonner’s basketball jersey, just 5th in Tigers’ history

AUBURN, Ala. (WSFA) - In the history of the Auburn’s Women’s Basketball program, only four players have seen their number retired. On Sunday, that number climbed into the rafters alongside the jersey of DeWanna Bonner.

Bonner, who holds the record as the Tigers’ all-time leading scorer, (2,162 points in case you were wondering), watched her No. 24 jersey go up in history Sunday.

The Alabama native, who was the 2009 SEC Player of the Year and a two-time All-American, was in tears as others celebrated her accomplishments inside Auburn’s Neville Arena.

A two-time WNBA champion, Bonner was a First Team All American in 2009 for Auburn before being taken fifth overall in the 2009 Draft by the Phoenix Mercury. She’s had a 13-year career in the league and is currently a forward with the Connecticut Sun.

“It’s really hard to get your jersey under here and retired,” she said in reaction. “It takes a certain kind of athlete, and to think that I’ve done that, I’m going to do that. Awe man, It’s just a huge honor, I’m just so proud and so happy to be up there.”

It wasn’t just Auburn University honoring Bonner. The City of Auburn got in on the action too, declaring Jan. 21 as “DeWanna Bonner Day.”

The city’s proclamation states:

“WHEREAS, for the fifth time in program history, the Auburn Tigers Women’s Basketball Team will raise a jersey to the rafters of Neville Arena — the No. 24 jersey in honor of Auburn’s all-time leading scorer, DeWanna Bonner; and
WHEREAS, Bonner, 36, played for the Tigers from 2005-2009 after coming to the Plains by way of Fairfield and was a two-time all-American and SEC Player of the Year in 2009, scoring 716 points that year as the most scored in one season in program history. Bonner was also a McDonald’s and WBCA All-American at Fairfield as well as the Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior; and
WHEREAS, scoring 2,162 points during her time at Auburn, Bonner stands as the program’s leading scorer while also ranking third in rebounds (1,047), seventh in blocks (139), first in free throws (600) and fourth in scoring average at 17.2 points per game; and
WHEREAS, after her senior season with the Tigers, Bonner was a fifth overall pick in the 2009 WNBA Draft, landing with the Phoenix Mercury, and Bonner won the WNBA Championship with the Mercury in 2009 and 2014.
NOW THEREFORE, I, Ron Anders, Jr., Mayor of the City of Auburn, Alabama, do hereby proclaim January 21, 2024, to be ”DeWanna Bonner Day” In Auburn, Alabama, and encourage all Auburn citizens to join in celebrating DeWanna Bonner’s outstanding achievements in her career and during her time on the Plains as her No. 24 jersey is retired and displayed in Neville Arena.”
Auburn Proclamation of 'DeWanna Bonner Day'

After receiving the city’s proclamation, Bonner had this to say:

“This is THEE Auburn University, and for me to be recognized is just unbelievable. This is home for me. This is where I grew up. This is where I left my mom and became a young lady, and now I’m coming back to be recognized as a great here is just…I don’t even have words. I’m super excited to be here. I haven’t been back to Auburn since I left in 2009. It’s been a very long time. When I drove on campus, I was like, ‘Where am I?’ We didn’t even have a Target; we literally just had a Walmart. But we made it work and had a good time, and it’s just always family and love…I’m just so grateful and so honored to be in this position, and I hope I can always influence and encourage you young ladies to be standing here and beat my records so you can be standing in this same position. All I’m saying is let’s get a win on Sunday because that is one place and one school we do NOT lose to. War Eagle!”
DeWanna Bonner, Connecticut Sun Forward

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