Indiana Fever activate Damiris Dantas’ contract; waive rookie Celeste Taylor
In a corresponding move, the Fever waived guard Celeste Taylor, who was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year at Ohio State and the 15th overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft. Taylor’s departure makes Caitlin Clark the only rookie on the Fever roster this season.
‘I couldn’t wait for this moment.’ Damiris Dantas rejoins Fever after return from injury
Dantas, who is Brazilian, was not in Indianapolis for the first week of training camp because of visa issues and a death in the family. She arrived in the second week with a knee injury and ended up not participating in any of the Fever’s camp.
Dantas did not suffer her knee injury with Indiana — it was either an off-court injury or something she suffered while playing in Turkey in the WNBA offseason. Because it was a non-WNBA team injury, Indiana could temporarily suspend her contract while she was recovering and technically have 13 players on the roster.
Indiana now has six guards and six forwards on its roster. It is unclear how Dantas will immediately fit into the Fever’s frontcourt rotation, which currently includes Aliyah Boston and NaLyssa Smith as their starters. Forward Temi Fagbenle, who started at the 4, is nearly back to full strength, and Katie Lou Samuelson comes off the bench at the 3.
