In the electric atmosphere of Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Indiana Fever obliterated the Chicago Sky 93–58, but all eyes turned to veteran forward DeWanna Bonner when she drained two late free throws to become the third all-time leading scorer in WNBA history.
As the crowd roared its approval, rookie-turned-sensation Caitlin Clark captured the moment in a single, suspense-filled Instagram Story. The pithy, five-word tribute instantly went viral, perfectly encapsulating a night where history and hype collided.
Caitlin Clark’s Tribute for DeWanna Bonner’s Latest Achievement
Draining two free throws with 3:13 left in the game, Bonner passed Tina Thompson for sole possession of third place on the league’s all-time scoring list to reach 7,489 career points in front of a sold-out home crowd.
History made 👑
DeWanna Bonner passes Tina Thompson to move into 3rd all-time on the WNBA scoring list.#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/klzKh9el3W
— WNBA (@WNBA) May 17, 2025
The 37-year-old now trails only Diana Taurasi (10,659) and Tina Charles (7,696) atop the scoring charts.
Indiana’s dominance was comprehensive during the May 17 game. Clark notched a triple-double (20 points, 10 assists, 10 rebounds), while Aliyah Boston (19 points, 13 rebounds) and Kelsey Mitchell (15 points, 1 rebound, and 2 assists) reinforced the Fever’s depth.
Chicago’s Angel Reese led the Sky with 12 points and 17 rebounds, but the Sky never seriously threatened after trailing by 20 at halftime.
Meanwhile, the two-time WNBA championship winner posted on her official Instagram, commemorating her record-breaking milestone.
In a heartfelt caption, she wrote, “What a powerful way to open the season. I’m beyond grateful for every step of this journey. Every challenge, every win, and every person who has stood beside me. Becoming the #3 All-time scorer in WNBA history is an honor I don’t take lightly. This moment isn’t the end, it’s the beginning of another incredible chapter for me and my team.”
Moments after the veteran star made her public yet digital celebration, teammate Caitlin Clark immortalized the night with her Instagram Story. She shared Bonner’s post and wrote against it, “Lucky to have seen it.”
According to CBS Sports, Bonner reflected on her longevity in a postgame press conference. “I think I’m just grateful. Most people don’t get up there,” Bonner remarked.
“That’s really hard to do. It’s really hard to be in that position and to be in the league this long. You’ve seen all the cuts that happened this week with great talented players, so just to be in that position to get there was just, I don’t know, I’m just grateful. I just try to soak in the moment.”
With the convincing opener, Indiana (1–0) sends a message to the rest of the league: they intend to contend. After winning the championship in 2012, the Fever lost the first round of the playoffs against the Sun in 2014.
Returning to rewrite the past and claim the title, the team heads into an upcoming home tilt against the Atlanta Dream on May 20.