The Indiana Fever have activated forward Damiris Dantas’ contract, paving the way for her long-awaited debut. Dantas, who signed a two-year guaranteed deal with the team during the offseason, had been sidelined for nearly half the season. In a corresponding roster move, the Fever waived rookie guard Celeste Taylor, who was the 15th overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft and had earned the title of Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year while at Ohio State.
Taylor’s departure leaves Caitlin Clark as the only rookie remaining on the Fever roster for the season. Taylor had shown promise as a defensive asset, but the team opted to make room for Dantas by releasing her.
Dantas, a Brazilian forward, faced multiple delays before joining the Fever. She missed the first week of training camp due to visa issues and the death of a family member. Upon arriving during the second week, Dantas was dealing with a knee injury and did not participate in any of the team’s training camp activities. Her injury did not occur while with the Fever, raising the possibility that it happened during the offseason when she was playing in Turkey or in a non-WNBA context.
Because her injury occurred outside of WNBA play, the Fever were able to temporarily suspend Dantas’ contract while she recovered, allowing them to keep 13 players on the roster during that time. Now that she’s ready to play, the team has reinstated her contract, and the Fever roster currently stands at 12 players, with six guards and six forwards.
It remains unclear how Dantas will fit into the Fever’s frontcourt rotation, as the starting forward spots are held by key players Aliyah Boston and NaLyssa Smith. Additionally, Temi Fagbenle, who had been starting at the 4 position, is close to returning to full strength, while Katie Lou Samuelson serves as a reliable option off the bench at the 3. Dantas’ return adds depth and versatility to Indiana’s roster, but it may take some time for her to find her role in the team’s rotation.
With Dantas back, the Fever look to adjust their lineups and continue building toward the future with their mix of young talent and experienced players.
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