Massive Injury Scare for Fever’s $197,100 Teammate Dantas – Relief Follows on Court
The Indiana Fever and their devoted fans were on edge Friday when Damiris Dantas, a key reserve for Caitlin Clark under her two‑year, $197,100 contract, suffered a frightening injury during Brazil’s crucial AmeriCup quarterfinal against Mexico. Thankfully, what appeared to be a serious injury turned into a full recovery, allowing Dantas to return to the court before the game ended—much to the relief of Fever and Brazil supporters alike
1. A Frightening Moment That Stopped the Game
During the first half, as Dantas attempted to defend a drive, she tweaked her ankle and instantly fell to the hardwood, wincing in pain. The game paused; medics rushed in. The crowd, home viewer or court-side spectator, collectively held their breath as Dantas was helped off, clearly in distress With Dantas absent for the remainder of the half, the match took on an unexpectedly tense tone.
2. Good News from the Bench
Fortunately, Brazil’s basketball federation—via WNBA and Brazilian reporter Roberta F. Rodrigues—confirmed that Dantas avoided serious damage. By halftime, signs of hope emerged: Dantas returned to warmup drills and, impressively, re-entered the game at the start of the third quarter, moving freely and without any visible limp Fans who worried about a season‑derailing injury quickly exhaled.
3. Star Performance Amidst the Scare
Dantas’s scare didn’t stop her from delivering a high‑impact performance. She finished with 24 points, led all scorers, and added six rebounds, four assists, and three steals in Brazil’s dominant 84‑61 victory over Mexico Post‑game, she was even spotted dancing her way to the locker room—signaling both relief and celebration.
4. Dantas’s Role with the Fever
Though she plays limited minutes for the Indiana Fever (about 12.3 minutes per game), organizers and fans appreciate Dantas for her depth‑stretching shooting and defensive versatility. She’s currently averaging 5.0 points and 2.8 rebounds per game—impactful production when Clark takes a breather
5. Context: Fever’s Roller‑Coaster Season With Injuries
This scare comes in a season already marred by injuries:
- Caitlin Clark, the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year, has battled a groin strain since June 24 and remains sidelined (
- Despite her absence, the Fever have gone 5–4 without Clark, including commanding wins over the Aces and Lynx (the-sun.com).
- Clark led fan voting for the All‑Star Game and remains a cornerstone of the Fever’s brand growth and viewership draw
6. Fever’s Depth Is Being Tested—and Rising
Without Clark, Indiana’s offensive identity has leaned on other players—Kelsey Mitchell, Lexie Hull, Sophie Cunningham, and rising bench pieces like Aari McDonald, who signed under the hardship exception Hull’s sharpshooting and Mitchell’s scoring off the dribble have been bright spots .
Coach Stephanie White has emphasized ball movement and team defense, especially during Clark’s absence. That strategy paid dividends in their win over Washington, and remained a reliable blueprint in back‑to‑back wins
7. The Broader Impacts
Dantas’s scare highlights two key takeaways:
- Fever fans have real cause for concern whenever a teammate goes down—especially backups expected to rotate into Clark’s minutes—or when international play enters the season.
- Depth matters. For Indiana, having players like Dantas capable of stepping up has proven critical in managing Clark’s injury layoff.
8. What’s Next?
- For Dantas: Rejoining Brazil in the AmeriCup semifinals with renewed confidence—and hopefully no more scares.
- For Indiana: Rallying during Clark’s hiatus. They boast a 9–8 record and seem determined to stay playoff‑competitive the-sun.com). Clark aims for a return by the July 19 All‑Star Game, but her recovery is being handled with caution
- For Fever lineup: Keeping the defense sharp, ball moving, and using bench weapons like Dantas to fill rotational gaps will decide how deep their playoff push can go.
Final Take
Friday’s scare—turning injury concern into joyous relief—served as a reminder: depth isn’t just about players waiting their turn; it’s about resilience, readiness, and rotating firepower. Dantas embodied that spirit. Now it’s on Indiana’s coaching staff and role players to sustain that momentum while Caitlin Clark works back to full health.
