The Indiana Fever have signed veteran center Mercedes Russell to a season-ending injury exception contract.
The Indiana Fever just signed another key player
Veteran center Mercedes Russell joins the Fever after a season-ending injury to Damiris Dantas.
Noa Dalzell is a senior writer covering the WNBA and all of women’s basketball for Breakaway, SB Nation’s women’s sports vertical, as well as the Celtics for CelticsBlog.
Russell, who played for the Los Angeles Sparks last season, will bolster the team’s frontcourt after Damiris Dantas underwent season-ending surgery to repair a torn meniscus.
Russell was drafted 22nd overall by the New York Liberty in the 2018 WNBA Draft after an illustrious career at the University of Tennessee. She played for the Seattle Storm for the majority of her WNBA career, averaging 4.6 points and 3.8 rebounds across 209 games in the league. She won the WNBA championship in 2018 and 2020 as a member of the Storm.
The 31-year-old has also played overseas over the past few years; she won the 2024 WNBL Championship with Australia’s Southside Flyers, and was named Grand Final MVP after averaging 14.3 points, 12.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game in the series.
Mercedes Russell will replace the injured Damiris Dantas
Dantas had appeared in 12 games this season, averaging 3.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.3 assists. Her role, albeit limited, meant that Stephanie White had another veteran big option at her disposal. Now, Russell assumes that role.
Russell, who is 6’6, gives the Fever more size and optionality at the center position. Mikayla Timpson has been a key backup for Indiana, averaging 4.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 16.9 minutes per game. In addition to Timpson, Myisha Hines-Allen and Monique Billings have played significant frontcourt roles.
The Fever are currently 20-12, owners of the WNBA’s fourth-best record. If the playoffs began today, they would face the Washington Mystics in the first round.
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