Not many players from Gary, Indiana, make it to the top–but for Dana Evans, that dream began in fifth grade, clutching a Valparaiso University recruitment letter smudged with Hot Cheeto fingerprints. On April 15, 2021, all her hard work paid off when the Dallas Wings selected her 13th overall in the second round of the WNBA Draft. Yet instead of celebrating, Dana was disappointed.

“Honestly, I was a little disappointed because I thought I should have [gone] earlier,” Evans says looking back. “Everyone that I talked to prior to the draft told me that I was a first round pick, for sure. Early on, top five, lowest would be like top eight that I [would] fall, so it was surprising to me but it was also a blessing.”

That mindset spoke volumes about Dana. Although the guard, who played college ball for the Louisville Cardinals, didn’t get much of a chance to shine in Dallas, she found her opportunity after being traded to the Chicago Sky. There, she thrived as the backup to Courtney Vandersloot and made an immediate impact–winning a championship in her rookie season.

But over time, her role with the Sky gradually diminished. In fact, she even initiated trade talks in the summer of 2024 before ultimately agreeing to stay for the season, starting 12 games after having just 2 starts in the previous two years. Still, for Evans, it wasn’t enough. She packed her bags and joined the Las Vegas Aces, where she has since become one of the team’s most important players coming off the bench.

In the September 21, 2025, semifinal clash against the Indiana Fever, Dana Evans once again grabbed the spotlight. Her 14-point performance on 6-of-9 shooting reminded fans of the talented guard she was at Louisville–a player once widely projected as a first-round pick in the 2021 draft. With all the talk about her game, it’s time to shine a light on the support system that helped her get here: her parents.

Who are Dana Evans’s Parents?

Born in Gary, Indiana, on August 1, 1998, to Damon and Shwanda Evans, Dana wasn’t exactly destined for basketball. By fourth grade, she was immersed in ballet and even nationally ranked in the 400 meters in indoor track—but had never touched a basketball. That changed when she spotted a sign outside her elementary school gym about girls’ basketball tryouts and decided to give it a shot. Her dad, Damon Evans, thought it was a joke. “I thought she was going to try out for cheerleading,” he later said.

Soon after the tryout, Evans fell in love with basketball–and she excelled almost immediately. Both Damon and Dana credit her background in ballet and track for shaping her into the athlete she became, saying those early years gave her balance, agility, and speed that translated perfectly to the court.

Not much is publicly known about her parents’ professions, but according to an article published by the Chicago Tribune, Damon worked the overnight shift at the NLMK Steel Mill near Gary, Indiana, often pulling 12-hour shifts to support his daughter’s basketball dreams.

What is the ethnicity of Dana Evans’ parents?

While there’s no official information available on their ethnicity, Damon and Shwanda Evans hail from Gary, a Rust Belt town with a predominantly Black community, making it likely that they are African Americans.

Who are Dana Evans’ siblings?

According to Sportskeeda, Evans has three siblings, all brothers: Damon Evans Jr., Justin Mitchell, and Lawrence Jones. Beyond their names, little else is publicly known, and we’ll update this section as more information becomes available.

Dana Evans’ relationship with her parents

Throughout her playing career her Dana Evans’ parents have been her biggest support system. Damon often took his daughter to Sky games, not just to fuel her love for basketball but to share special moments together. He believed in her talent and dreamed of the day she’d play for the Sky—so he could watch every home game, cheering her on from the stands. And his daughter was able to fulfil his wish.

Throughout her career, Evans has leaned heavily on her father’s guidance. “I’m a daddy’s girl,” she had  said. “My dad really knew my life before it even happened. Honestly, he already knew how I was going to be in college. When he tells me something, I always believe it—because it always ends up coming true. It’s like, OK, he already saw that coming.”

Not much is known publicly about her current relationship with her parents, but you can bet Dana stays close to them. They will without a doubt be rooting for her every step of the way, hoping she wins another championship–this time with the Aces.