Damiris Dantas

Brazilian basketball player (born 1992) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Damiris Dantas do Amaral[1] (born November 17, 1992) is a Brazilian basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for Botaş SK of the Turkish Super League.

Born (1992-11-17) November 17, 1992 (age 33)
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Quick facts No. 12 – Botaş SK, Position ...
Damiris Dantas
Dantas with the Minnesota Lynx in 2019
No. 12 Botaş SK
PositionPower forward / Center
LeagueTurkish Super League
Personal information
Born (1992-11-17) November 17, 1992 (age 33)
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight214 lb (97 kg)
Career information
WNBA draft2012: 1st round, 12th overall pick
Drafted byMinnesota Lynx
Playing career2011–present
Career history
2010–2011COC/Jundiaí
2011–2012Real Celta Vigo
2012Ourinhos
2013Maranhao
2013–2015Americana
20142015Minnesota Lynx
2015;
2017
Atlanta Dream
20192023Minnesota Lynx
2023–2024OGM Ormanspor
2024–presentIndiana Fever
2024–presentBotaş SK
Career highlights
Stats at WNBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Medals
Women's basketball
Representing  Brazil
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place2019 LimaTeam
Bronze medal – third place2011 GuadalajaraTeam
FIBA AmeriCup
Gold medal – first place2011 Neiva
Gold medal – first place2023 León
Silver medal – second place2025 Santiago
Bronze medal – third place2013 Xalapa
Bronze medal – third place2019 San Juan
South American Championship
Gold medal – first place2013 Mendoza
World Championship U-19
Bronze medal – third place2011 Chile
Close

Together with the junior Brazilian team, she won the bronze medal at the Under-19 World Championship in 2011, Chile, and was named Most Valuable Player at that tournament.[2] That same year, Dantas was also champion of the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship for Women with the senior national team,[3] and won a bronze medal at the 2011 Pan American Games.[4]

Dantas began playing basketball at Janeth Arcain's basketball institute at age 13. Within four years, she had become a professional.[5]

Dantas played for Ourinhos in 2012, Maranhão in 2013, and Americana in 2013–2015.[6]

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 enough to continue playing, sidelining her to spend time resting and receiving psychological treatment. Dantas attended the Lynx training camp in 2023 and was 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] On April 12, 2026, it was announced that Dantas had re-signed with the Fever.[25]

WNBA career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
 TO  Turnovers per game  FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 Bold  Career best ° League leader

Regular season

Stats current through end of 2025 regular season

More information Year, Team ...
WNBA regular season statistics[26]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2012 Did not play (Olympic commitment)
2013 Did not play
2014 Minnesota 302321.8.5111.000.7605.11.20.50.30.86.0
2015 Minnesota 16416.7.581.667.7893.31.20.20.31.15.6
Atlanta 161624.8.383.333.9735.40.70.90.61.18.3
2016 Did not play (Olympic commitment)
2017 Atlanta 34218.0.392.265.7673.60.70.50.50.87.7
2018 Atlanta 19013.4.433.238.7222.40.80.40.00.55.4
2019 Minnesota 262625.6.432.393.7314.53.20.70.51.79.2
2020 Minnesota 222226.6.464.433.7276.12.61.10.21.812.9
2021 Minnesota 242023.8.377.333.6504.02.30.40.31.87.7
2022 Minnesota 151517.5.304.262.8333.81.90.20.11.15.1
2023 Did not play
2024 Indiana 20010.5.459.394.6672.20.60.30.30.64.5
2025 Indiana 38011.6.348.263.8572.40.70.20.10.84.6
Career 10 years, 3 teams 26012818.9.418.332.7833.81.40.50.31.17.0
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Playoffs

More information Year, Team ...
WNBA playoff statistics
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2014 Minnesota 308.4.5000.70.30.00.00.30.7
2019 Minnesota 1128.0.615.3331.0006.01.02.00.05.0°20.0
2020 Minnesota 4434.3.471.519.8337.52.81.50.02.518.0
2024 Indiana 2016.0.500.4001.0001.00.50.00.00.58.0
2025 Indiana Did not play (concussion protocol)
Career 4 years, 2 teams 10522.2.500.474.8754.01.40.80.01.711.0
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References

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