WNBA
Minnesota Lynx (2014–2015)
Dantas was drafted by the Minnesota Lynx in the First Round of the 2012 WNBA draft - 12th Overall. Dantas was not expected to play in the WNBA until after the 2012 Olympic Games. [7]
She was signed by the Lynx on April 2, 2014. [8] Dantas made her WNBA debut on May 16, 2014, gathering 12 rebounds in a win against Washington. [9] Dantas became the second rookie in league history to debut with 10 rebounds and 5 assists. With Rebekkah Brunson being sidelined with tendinitis, Dantas became the starter, and soon led the WNBA rookies in rebounds. [10] On August 9, 2015, she made 18 points. [11]
Atlanta Dream (2015 and 2017)
On July 27, 2015, Dantas was traded to the Atlanta Dream as part of the three-team deal. [12] She was suspended for the 2016 WNBA season after she failed to report to training camp, instead using the time to train with the Brazilian National team for the 2016 Summer Olympics that the country would host in Rio de Janeiro. [13] Atlanta retained Dantas's rights and they expected her to play with the team during the 2017 season.
Minnesota Lynx (2019–2023)
On February 8, 2019, Dantas signed with the Minnesota Lynx as a free agent. [14] Dantas missed several games in 2019 due to a calf injury. [15] In 2019, Dantas started all 26 games she played in and recorded career-highs in minutes, points, and assists per game. She continued to expand her game and make herself valuable for the Lynx as she improved her outside shooting to open up the inside play for Sylvia Fowles. [16]
Dantas showed up in 2020 for the Lynx as they played in the WNBA Bubble. Over the 22-game campaign, Dantas shot 44.3% from three-point on just over four attempts beyond the arc per game, cementing her spot as one of the WNBA's elite-shooting bigs. She finished the season with averages of 12.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. [17] Dantas and the Lynx agreed to a multi-year extension in September 2020 after she completed one of her best years in the WNBA. Coach Cheryl Reeve stated that, “Damiris has been such an important part of the Lynx culture since she first became a member of our organization in 2014...She has made great strides as a player over the last couple of years and remains an important element in our path forward.” [18]
In one of the final games of the 2021 season, Dantas suffered a Lisfranc injury in her right foot, forcing her to end her season early and undergo surgery. [19] The extensive recovery time led to her developing a depression that led to lesser results and ultimately a nervous breakdown at the fifteenth game of the 2022 season. After discussing with Reeve, the coach agreed Dantas was not mentally well to continue playing, sidelining her to spend time with rest and psychological treatment. Dantas attended the Lynx training camp in 2023, ending up waived. To compensate her absence in the WNBA, Dantas led the Brazilian team to the 2023 FIBA Women's AmeriCup title and played in both Mexico for Fuerza Regia and Turkey for Ormanspor. [20] [21]
Indiana Fever (2024–present)
On February 1, 2024 Dantas signed a multi-year contract with the Indiana Fever. [22] Dantas had to miss the opening week of training camp due to an issue with her visa and a family emergency. She returned to Indianapolis for the second week of camp, but a knee injury prevented her from training with the team. The Fever suspended her contract while she recovered from her injury. [23] On June 25, 2024, the Fever activated Dantas. [24]
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