Indiana Fever Player on Temporary Leave Was 'in a Lot of Pain' After Injury Scare
Given Caitlin Clark's five-game absence due to a lingering groin problem, the last thing the Indiana Fever need right now is another injured player on their roster.
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But it appears that the Fever may have another one after veteran center-forward Damiris Dantas suffered a painful injury in the Brazil and Mexico's FIBA Women's AmeriCup quarterfinal game last Friday.
According to Brazilian-American WNBA reporter Roberta F. Rodrigues, Dantas had to be "helped out of the court" after twisting her ankle in the first half of Friday's contest. The 32-year-old was reportedly "in a lot of pain" as she lay on the ground before being forced to exit the game.
Damiris Dantas of the Indiana Fever shoots the ball during a game. Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The good news for Dantas is that the injury did not appear to be as serious as initially suspected. Rodrigues reported minutes later that the Brazilian federation told her that the veteran was "doing well" and that there was "nothing serious going on with her ankle."
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Dantas was able to start the second half for Brazil. She reportedly "looked normal" and did not have a noticeable limp. It also did not look like she was bothered by the issue, as Dantas led her squad to an 84-61 blowout win with 24 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals and two triples in 34 minutes of play.
Brazil is back in action on Saturday in its semifinal matchup against rivals Argentina, and there has been no indication that Dantas, who is one of the frontrunners for the tournament's MVP title, will sit out the pivotal matchup.
If Dantas and Co. win against Argentina, they will play in the gold-medal match against United States on Sunday.
Related: Fever Player on Temporary Leave Draws 'Problem' Statement From FIBA AmeriCup
Related: Stephanie White Reveals 'Biggest Thing' Holding Caitlin Clark Back From Injury Return
Related: Lexie Hull Steals the Show With Her Outfit for Fever-Sparks
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
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