What Katie Lou Samuelson and Damiris Dantas bring to the Indiana Fever

Both players are former first-round draft picks and did not play in the WNBA during the 2023 season. For the 26-year-old Samuelson, it was due to pregnancy and her ensuing maternity leave. Dantas, meanwhile, was waived by the Minnesota Lynx after the preseason and never re-joined a team. She played internationally for Brazil in the Women’s FIBA ​​AmeriCup in the summer and also played overseas.

Now, they both join the Fever and will fill key roles.

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For Samuelson, it’s as a shooter on the wing. She averaged 9.7 points and 3.0 rebounds per game in 2022 with the Los Angeles Sparks. The UConn product is a career 33.9% 3-point shooter, and she shot over 35.0% in her last two full seasons.

Not only does Samuelson make threes, she takes a lot — 5.0 per game in her last full season in the WNBA. Last year’s Indiana Fever roster ranked 10th in 3-point attempts per game, with only Kelsey Mitchell firing more than 2.5 per game.

The California native is also a capable defender, especially within team concepts. Her rotations and communication are excellent, and that will go a long way for a Fever team that is trying to build its identity around defense. Head coach Christie Sides will love everything Samuelson adds.

Not only does Samuelson fit a skill need, but she also fits a positional need. On the wing, the Fever needed someone more consistent. Now, they have a better mix of veterans and developing pieces in those spots with Samuelson, Victoria Vivians and Lexie Hull.

Before free agency opened, Fever general manager Lin Dunn had wondered who would be at the small forward position. “I think there’s still some question about who’s going to be on either side of Kelsey Mitchell,” Dunn said in December. “Kelsey Mitchell is our two-guard, one of the best two-guards in this league. … Who is going to be at the one? Who is going to be at the three?”

Perhaps the team has its answer in Samuelson. Maybe it can add someone else, too. Either way, it got a strong shooter on a two-year deal who can play both the three and the four. That’s a boost for Dunn’s squad.

Dantas, meanwhile, gives the Fever a veteran presence on the interior. That’s something that Dunn mentioned as being important twice in the last few months — once when discussing the rationale behind trading Queen Egbo for Amanda Zahui B. midseason and again when looking toward free agency.

“We needed someone else in the post position that was a veteran. We needed some more leadership there. We needed someone there that was willing to accept whatever role that we gave them.” Dunn told The Next in late August.

Then, in December, she pondered, “Who is going to back up [NaLyssa] Smith and [Aliyah] Boston?”

She has her answer in Dantas.

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The 31-year old frontcourt player has a history of success in the WNBA and internationally. In her four most recent WNBA seasons, she showcased a similar skill to Samuelson: shooting. Dantas attempted at least 4.1 3-pointers per game from 2019 to 2022, and she made 36.4% of them. She has solid touch around the rim as well, so her ability to be a multi-level scorer will be valuable for the Fever.

Dantas should instantly fill in at both the backup four and five positions at times. Those roles were occupied by Zahui B. and Emma Cannon last season, but both are free agents. Perhaps they could be back, but if they return to Indiana, their roles will be smaller due to the Fever’s new addition.

Dantas had some impressive games for the Lynx in recent seasons and showed improvement in several skills. She averaged 5.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game in 2022, her most recent WNBA season.

It’s clear that the Fever wanted to add floor spacers, and who could blame them? With Mitchell, Boston and Smith in the mix, spacing and shooting are vital traits for Fever role players. If Caitlin Clark winds up going pro and assuming point guard duties in Indiana, there will be a ton of spacing for players to work with next season.

Dunn stressed the need for talent next to Mitchell and veterans behind the young bigs. She got it on Day 1 of free agency. It was a productive start for the Fever, and they could do more given that they still have salary cap room to work with.