Why Indiana Fever can carry 13 players on its opening-day roster

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Fever announced its opening day roster Monday morning, which included 13 players.

WNBA teams are technically only able to carry 12 on opening-day rosters, but the Fever temporarily suspended Damiris Dantas' contract. Dantas was in her home country of Brazil for the first week of training camp because of visa issues and a family emergency. While she has been in Indianapolis for the second week of camp, she has not practiced because of a right knee injury.

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Dantas will be inactive for the time her contract is suspended, which will likely be for as long as it takes for her to recover from her knee injury. She is still a part of the team's official roster, and her salary will count against Indiana's cap.

Dantas' contract suspension means both Temi Fagbenle, who was with the Fever on a training camp contract, and second-year forward Victaria Saxton made the opening-day roster.

Fagbenle hasn't played in the WNBA since 2019, instead opting to play professionally in her home country of Great Britain. But she has impressed Christie Sides and the Fever coaching staff in her return to the league, earning her a roster spot.

Saxton is in her second year on the Fever's roster. She played sparingly in 2023, appearing in just 15 of the Fever's 40 games. She played limited minutes during the preseason, registering less than 10 minutes against Dallas and none against Atlanta.

Caitlin Clark and Celeste Taylor are the two rookies to make the opening-day roster. Clark is obviously a cornerstone, while Taylor stood out with her defensive abilities to make the final opening-day roster.

Indiana Fever 2024 roster

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Fever announce 13-player roster; temporarily suspend contract