Indiana Fever – Damiris Dantas missed the first week of camp due to a visa wait, but is now back and excited to contribute.
A visa delay turned the start of Indiana Fever training camp into a waiting game for veteran center Damiris Dantas.
Re-signing with the Fever during the condensed offseason. Dantas had planned to arrive right away in Indianapolis. but her work visa approval took longer than expected.. The delay kept her at home for roughly two weeks. which meant she missed the team’s opening stretch of practices before finally returning.
For Dantas, the hardest part wasn’t the basketball part, it was the uncertainty. In a compressed offseason, even a short administrative hold can disrupt timing and rhythm.
The Fever’s staff and players, meanwhile, have leaned on familiarity. Dantas is entering her third season with Indiana and her second under coach Stephanie White, so she’s already well-versed in the system and what the team is trying to build.
Her role also matters beyond the calendar.. Last season. Dantas appeared in a steady supporting capacity behind Aliyah Boston. offering the kind of floor-spacing that helps open up possessions in the post.. While her outside shooting dipped compared with her career standards. her ability to stretch the floor remains a key reason the Fever want her integrated as early as possible.
This is the kind of setback that can affect momentum, but it also highlights how teams plan for continuity. The Fever are trying to absorb the late start without losing their offensive identity.
Indiana’s need for that depth is especially clear after last season’s injury challenges.. Dantas missed the Fever’s playoff run after a concussion in practice ahead of the postseason. sidelining her for all eight games of the team’s run.. Now, she’s focused on being available, healthy, and ready to help where the team needs her most.
Dantas’ confidence also comes from what she’s done since that disappointment.. After recovering from the concussion. she continued to play overseas. sharpening her game in competition that included time in Turkey and a stint in China. along with appearances for Brazil during the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.. When she looks at her return, she frames it as progress and a chance to contribute immediately.
For fans, her message lands on something bigger than one missed week: resilience. When players return after health setbacks and administrative delays, it reshapes how a season begins and how quickly chemistry can form.
Coach White has echoed that readiness. saying Dantas has been performing well in workouts and is prepared to rejoin the team’s rotation.. With integration underway and the Fever aiming to keep their pace. Dantas’ happy return to the court is the latest signal that the offseason detour is already being left behind.