Overview
- Reserve center Damiris Dantas underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus, creating a season-ending roster vacancy that the Fever needed to fill.
- The WNBA granted Indiana a season-ending injury exception and the team signed Mercedes Russell to a contract through the end of the 2026 season, a move announced on Monday.
- Russell is a 6-foot-6 veteran with two WNBA titles and career averages of about 4.6 points and 3.8 rebounds, and she earned 2024 WNBL Grand Final MVP honors in Australia.
- The Fever are adding Russell specifically for size, rim protection and rebounding behind starter Aliyah Boston rather than for increased scoring production.
- The signing gives Indiana immediate frontcourt depth for its 20-12 push toward the playoffs and complements the club’s parallel experiment with developmental forward Michelle Onyiah.