Drafted 12th overall by the Minnesota Lynx in 2012, Damiris Dantas has carved out a reputation as a reliable force on the hardwood. Whether it’s been with the Lynx, the Atlanta Dream, or now the Indiana Fever, Dantas has consistently stepped up, especially when her team needed her the most.

Take a recent game against the Washington Mystics, for example. With the core of Indiana’s offense sidelined due to injuries, Dantas didn’t flinch. She dropped eight points and pulled down four rebounds in just 17 minutes, helping the Fever break out of a frustrating three-game losing streak. That’s the kind of quiet leadership and impact that comes with years of WNBA experience. But if you think Damiris Dantas is only impressive between the lines of a basketball court, she’s not! She’s just as fun, unique, and full of personality, making her a fan favourite not just for her skills, but for her spirit, too.

Where is Damiris Dantas from? What’s her nationality?

Hailing from Brazil, a country known for hosting the world’s largest carnival in Rio de Janeiro, filled with vibrant parades and irresistible samba rhythms, Damiris Dantas carries that same electric energy onto the basketball court. But while millions in her homeland gravitate toward Peladão, a wildly popular community football tournament, Dantas chose a different path. It’s because her heart belonged to basketball.

And that was how she ended up picking the game at just 13 years old, training at the Janeth Arcain Institute, named after one of Brazil’s most iconic female basketball players. From there, Dantas began building a legacy of her own, proudly representing Brazil in major international competitions like the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup and the Olympic Games. Her breakout moment came in 2011, when she won the bronze medal at the U19 World Championship—not just participating, but being crowned Most Valuable Player of the tournament. That same year, she led the senior national team to a FIBA Americas Championship title, and later added a Pan American Games bronze medal to her growing collection.

But as promising as her journey looked on paper, transitioning from Brazil to the WNBA wasn’t without its hurdles. Cultural shifts, the language barrier, and adapting to a faster-paced game all tagged along. Still, Dantas never backed down. She embraced the grind—and that’s what’s made her the fearless competitor she is today.

What is Damiris Dantas’ ethnicity and religion?

Damiris Dantas is of Brazilian ethnicity, born and raised in the heart of South America’s largest and most culturally rich nation. While she’s been vocal about her basketball journey and international career, she has chosen to keep her religion private, never publicly addressing it in interviews or media appearances. Still, her grounded nature and work ethic suggest strong personal values, likely shaped by her heritage and upbringing.

Even without many details about her spiritual background, Dantas carries herself with discipline and pride. But aside from her versatile skillset and dominant post play, there’s another quirky trait that fans love about her: her unique eating habits. Yes, you read that right—Dantas loves pasta with beans, a combo that might raise eyebrows for some, but is simply a comfort food for her. And when it comes to sweets, her go-to is none other than banana candy, a Brazilian classic. Unusual to some, beloved by others, these fun little preferences only add to her charm and make her that much more relatable to fans around the world.

Which college did Damiris Dantas attend? 

Unlike many of her WNBA peers, Damiris Dantas didn’t take the college route or compete in the NCAA system. Instead, she took a more direct and daring path into professional basketball. Her journey began at just 13 years old at the Janeth Arcain Institute in Brazil, where she first picked up a basketball. From there, things moved fast. By 15, she was already competing professionally with Divino/COC Jundiaí, and shortly after, she took her talents to Spain to play for Real Celta Vigo, sharpening her skills against seasoned international competition. Given her rapid development and the accolades she had already collected, it’s no surprise that the Minnesota Lynx saw something special in her.

They selected her in the 2012 WNBA Draft, despite knowing she wouldn’t join the team until after the 2012 Olympic Games in London. While Dantas continued to develop overseas, the Lynx waited patiently. Finally, in 2014, she officially signed with the team. And what a debut it was. On May 16, 2014, Dantas pulled down 12 rebounds in a win over Washington and became the second rookie in W’s history to debut with 10 rebounds and 5 assists. But her journey wasn’t without bumps. Just a year later, she was traded to the Atlanta Dream in a three-team deal. But then she ended up missing the entire W’s season, choosing instead to train with the Brazilian National Team ahead of the Rio Olympics, a huge moment for her home country.

After a brief hiatus from the WNBA, Dantas made her comeback in 2019, re-signing with the Minnesota Lynx as a free agent. She remained a key part of their roster for several seasons until 2024, when she signed a multi-year deal with the Indiana Fever. And now? She’s proving exactly why that decision was worth it—bringing experience, strength, and leadership to a team on the rise. Her journey may not have followed the traditional path, but Damiris Dantas’ story is a powerful reminder that success comes in many forms, and sometimes, it starts with taking the road less traveled.