When Damiris Dantas finally stepped back onto the court four months after suffering an MCL injury, there was a sense of relief but also uncertainty. And the head coach, Christie Sides, didn’t sugarcoat it. “Damiris hasn’t been an option for us yet. Temi showed us what she can do. So now Di just has to get in, and it’s going to take some time. But she’s going to get those minutes, and we’ll figure that out along the way,” she said. With that, a nine-year WNBA veteran was back, but for what result?

Dantas managed to appear in 20 games, enough to log in close to 10 minutes on average. But let’s be honest, it wasn’t enough. Not for someone who’s poured years into this league. So here she is, seven months since, and the grind she’s put in is unmistakable. How could fans not take notice?

It all comes up as a video of DD went viral wherein she’s seen practicing on the court. But it wasn’t the gameplay under the spotlight—instead, it was her transformation, the muscles she gained, and her agility. This was a player who could only manage to average 4.5 points last season. But this was also someone who wanted to help out her team to the max.

“I can bring everything,” she said, taking the court for the Fever last year. “More energy, I have experience: I’ve played in this league for nine years, so I hope I help my teammates.” And she had her moments, like the spin move against Napheesa Collier when the Fever were down 29-37. Or those effortless three-pointers, one of which got them a lead against the Aces. Some electric passes, too. But maybe Dantas knew she had a lot more to give. She proved that in the off-season.

Playing for the Turkish KBSL over the last few months, Dantas stacked up on impressive performances. After tallying 23 points, 11 rebounds in Jan, she followed it up with another double-double — 14 points, 10 rebounds — only a few days later. She has been honing her three-pointers and post play, which are exactly what make her a valuable player for the Fever. Especially with Temi Fagbenle gone.

Notably, Fever just picked up three players, Makayla Timpson, Bree Hall, and Yvonne Ejim, two of whom are power forwards, on this year’s draft night. And now, Indiana Fever boasts a powerful roster with DeWanna Bonner, Aliyah Boston, Jaelyn Brown, Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham, Natasha Howard, Lexie Hull, Sydney Colson, Kelsey Mitchell, Brianna Turner, Damiris Dantas, and Jilian Alleyne, along with three rooks.

With that, Dantas might not see glaring minutes, but she will be a reliable veteran. Last year, she had expressed joy at getting a chance to be on the court. “I worked hard to be ready, to help my teammates, help the team, so now it’s just the best part,” she had said. Now better than before, it sure looks like the forward has more to offer and the fans couldn’t have been more excited.

Fans react as Indiana Fever standout is quietly reclaiming her spotlight.

As soon as the video of Damiris Dantas dropped, fans flooded the comment section with excitement, curiosity, and a bit of shock.“What. A. Change!!!” one user exclaimed, clearly stunned by her transformation. But there’s a reason why fans are buzzing and it’s not just about what they saw in the clip. It’s about what it represents.