Since adding Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever have been the topic of the 2024 WNBA season. As a rookie in the league, Clark is thus far living up to her hype, and the Fever have improved their basketball performance since the beginning of the campaign. And while the Fever attempt to compete for a postseason berth, assistance is on the way. According to Chloe Peterson of The Indianapolis Star, the Fever waived rookie Celeste Taylor and activated forward Damiris Dantas to the roster on Tuesday.
Damiris Dantas was a free agent that the Fever signed during the offseason. Outside of the Fever training camp, she sustained a knee injury, leading the franchise to temporarily suspend her contract as permitted by the WNBA. The Fever had to create room on the active roster for Dantas because it appears that she is now healthy and prepared to play. Taylor had only made five appearances for the Fever and was mostly out of the rotation. In the 2024 WNBA Draft, she was selected with the 15th overall pick.
Brazilian-born Damiris Dantas joins the Fever with eight years of WNBA experience. Her final season in the league was with the Minnesota Lynx in 2022. She played in 15 games that year, averaging little over 17 minutes. With a 30.4 percent field goal percentage, a 26.2 percent three-point percentage, and an 83.3 percent free-throw percentage, she averaged 5.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists.
The Lynx selected Dantas with the 12th overall choice in the 2012 WNBA Draft. Her league debut did not occur until the 2014 campaign. She’s played for the Atlanta Dream as well. Dantas can play small-ball center and gives the Fever size in the frontcourt. She has the ability to shoot well and play in the post.
With regard to records, the Fever were among the weakest teams in the league at the start of the 2024 WNBA season. However, they have won four of their last five games, including a four-game winning streak, since their 3-10 start. The enhanced chemistry between Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark, along with Boston’s growing role in the Fever offense, have been major factors in the turnaround.
Boston was averaging 19.5 points, 11.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.3 blocked shots during the team’s four-game winning streak. She had a 74.8 percent field goal percentage. Temi Fagbenle, who was started in the starting lineup because of her excellent play before sustaining a foot injury, was also absent during the Fever’s win run.
Furthermore, Clark has persisted in arguing why she should win the Rookie of the Year title. Clark was averaging 16.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 7.0 assists during the recent winning run. He was also shooting 35.7 percent from three-point range and 47.7 percent from the field. At 7-11, the Fever are just one-half of a game behind the Chicago Sky for the eighth and final postseason position. The Los Angeles Sparks, who are ranked 10th, are a full two games behind them.
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