The Indiana Fever have been the talk of the 2024 WNBA season due to the addition of Caitlin Clark. Clark is so far living up to her billing as a rookie in the league while the Fever have been playing better basketball since the start of the season. And help is on the way as the Fever look to contend for a playoff spot. The Fever activated forward Damiris Dantas to the roster on Tuesday while subsequently waiving rookie Celeste Taylor as per Chloe Peterson of The Indy Star.
The Fever had signed Damiris Dantas to their roster during the offseason as a free agent. She suffered a knee injury outside of Fever training camp and the team temporarily suspended her contract as the WNBA allows. Dantas is apparently healthy now and ready to play so the Fever had to make room on the active roster for her.
Taylor was largely out of the rotation and had only appeared in five games for the Fever. She was the No. 15 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft
Damiris Dantas, a native of Brazil, brings eight years of WNBA experience to the Fever. She last played in the league during the 2022 season for the Minnesota Lynx. That year she appeared in 15 games at a little over 17 minutes per game. She averaged 5.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists with splits of 30.4 percent shooting from the field, 26.2 percent shooting from the three-point line and 83.3 percent shooting from the free-throw line.
Dantas was the No. 12 overall pick in the 2012 WNBA Draft by the Lynx. She did not make her league debut until the 2014 season. She has also played for the Atlanta Dream. Dantas provides the Fever with size in the frontcourt and the ability to play small-ball center. She can play in the post and space the floor with her shooting.
Fever have been playing improved basketball despite recent loss
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
The Fever began the 2024 WNBA season as one of the worst teams in the league, record-wise. But since their 3-10 start, they have since won four of their last five games which included a four-game win streak. A big part of the turnaround has been the improved cohesiveness between Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston as well as Boston having an increased role in the Fever offense.
During the four-game win streak, Boston was averaging 19.5 points, 11.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.3 blocked shots. She was shooting 74.8 percent from the field. The Fever had also managed this win streak without the presence of Temi Fagbenle who had been inserted into the starting lineup due to her strong play prior to suffering a foot injury.
And Clark has continued to make her case for the Rookie of the Year Award. During the recent win streak, Clark was averaging 16.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 7.0 assists while shooting 47.7 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from the three-point line.
The Fever are currently 7-11 and only a half a game behind the Chicago Sky for the eighth and final playoff spot. They are a full two games ahead of the Los Angeles Sparks who are in the 10th spot.
