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via Imago

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Damiris Dantas did not grow up with comfort. She was born in Ferraz de Vasconcelos, a small city in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, where opportunities were scarce. Life dealt her an even harsher blow when her mother passed away when she was only nine years old. This incident led her and her sisters to be raised by extended family in the favelas. Yet, through the hardship, there was something about her that could not be hidden.

She had her height, her wingspan, and above all, a remarkable ability to learn quickly. “She had also shown to be a fast learner,” recalled Janeth Arcain, the four-time WNBA champion who became her mentor. Out of nearly 80 girls who tried out, Arcain saw something in Dantas that stood apart. That moment was the spark. It was the start of a journey where basketball became a way to transform her family’s fate. Here’s how much she has built till now-

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Damiris Dantas’ Contract and Salary Breakdown

Damiris Dantas is currently under a two-year contract with the Indiana Fever, signed for the 2024–2025 seasons. The deal is worth $197,100 in total, fully guaranteed, and the average annual salary is $98,550. In 2024, Dantas carried a cap hit of $97,100, which also matched her annual cash earnings for that season. Now, moving into 2025, she will see a slight bump. She has a base salary of $100,000, with her cap hit also being the same amount. By the end of the contract, her total cash earnings will have reached the full $197,100 value.

After this deal concludes, Dantas will become an unrestricted free agent in 2026, entering the market at the age of 33. Here is the contract Overview-

  • Contract Length: 2 years (2024–2025)
  • Total Value: $197,100 (guaranteed)
  • Average Annual Salary: $98,550
  • Signing Bonus: N/A
  • Free Agency: 2026 (UFA)

Salary Breakdown for clarity

202431Active$97,100$97,100$97,100
202532Protected$100,000$100,000$197,100
202633UFA

Source: WNBA contract specifics, collected from Spotrac.

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Damiris Dantas’ Career Earnings

201926LynxActive / Protected$105,000$105,000
202027LynxActive / Protected$105,000$210,000
202128LynxActive / Protected$126,000$336,000
202229LynxActive / Protected$129,150$465,150
202431FeverActive / Protected$97,100$562,250
202532FeverActive / Protected$100,000$662,250

Total Career Cash Earnings (through 2025): $662,250. Here is a team-wise breakdown for ease of understanding-

4Lynx$465,150$465,150
1Fever$97,100$97,100

What is Damiris Dantas’ Net Worth?

Most sources say that there is no concrete information publicly available on Damiris Dantas’ net worth. However, a few sources have speculated that it should lie somewhere between $2 million – $2.4 million. This includes maximum share from WNBA contracts and endorsement deals.

Damiris Dantas’s College and Professional Career

Damiris Dantas currently suits up for the Indiana Fever in the WNBA. However, she has carved out a career that stretches across both American courts and leagues all over the world. Let’s first begin with her WNBA Journey:

  • Minnesota Lynx (2014–2015, 2019–2023): Drafted in 2012, Dantas officially joined the Lynx two years later. There, she became a valuable frontcourt piece across multiple stints.
  • Atlanta Dream (2015, 2017–2018): She then spent time developing her game in Atlanta before returning to Minnesota.
  • Indiana Fever (2024–present): Currently, she is continuing her WNBA career in Indiana, where she brings in veteran leadership and international polish.

Moving towards the International Play:

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  • Dantas has played professionally across Brazil, Spain, France, South Korea, Mexico, and Turkey. This makes her one of the more seasoned global players in the league.
  • These stints honed her adaptability, giving her a unique edge in style and versatility compared to players who stayed primarily in the U.S.
  • As a proud representative of her country, she has also competed with the Brazilian national team.

Her College Career (Or Lack Thereof):

  • Unlike many of her WNBA peers, Damiris Dantas did not play college basketball in the United States.
  • She developed her game at Janeth Arcain’s basketball institute in Brazil, which became her launchpad to the pros.
  • Drafted by the Minnesota Lynx in 2012, she initially wasn’t expected to join the WNBA until after the 2012 Olympic Games.
  • Ultimately, she signed with the Lynx on April 2, 2014, officially starting her WNBA journey.

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Through grief, sacrifice, and relentless travel, Damiris Dantas has successfully carried her family’s hopes. From the long train rides to Janeth Arcain’s institute, to sending home nearly every dollar she earned in Brazil, her journey was never smooth. At just 16, she tasted setbacks abroad but never stopped fighting for her sisters, her niece, and the loved ones she supported. But for her, it wasn’t duty, it was love. “Family has always been the number one concern in Damiris’ mind. And it is not even out of obligation, it is pure love. She thinks about her sisters the whole time”, said Arcain.

Now today, with a career spanning the WNBA and beyond, every mile, every hardship has finally paid off.

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