Mercedes Russell shares first reaction after joining Indiana Fever

The Indiana Fever needed frontcourt help after losing Damiris Dantas for the remainder of the 2026 WNBA season. They found it in a player who knows exactly what it takes to win a championship.

Indiana announced Monday that it signed veteran center Mercedes Russell through a season-ending injury exception. Russell joins the Fever after Dantas underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in her left knee.

It did not take long for the two-time WNBA champion to feel at home with her new organization.

“Everybody has been so welcoming,” Russell told reporters Monday. “Everybody’s saying, you know, they’re there for anything that I need. So it’s been really cool. It’s been seamless.”

Russell also expressed her excitement about experiencing the energy surrounding the Fever from the home side for the first time.

“It’s incredible,” Russell said. “The fans show up, they show out. You can definitely feel the energy. I know I’ve been the opponent, but now I’ll be on the good side, I guess is what you call it.”

Mercedes Russell gives Fever another proven center

Russell will not be asked to replace everything Dantas brought to the Fever. The two veteran centers have different skill sets, and Indiana will need to adjust its rotation accordingly.

What Russell does provide is size, rebounding and extensive postseason experience behind All-Star center Aliyah Boston. The 6-foot-6 Russell entered the WNBA as a second-round pick in the 2018 draft after a decorated college career at Tennessee. She spent most of her professional career with the Seattle Storm and was part of the franchise’s championship teams in 2018 and 2020.

Russell has averaged 4.6 points and 2.8 rebounds across her WNBA career. She most recently appeared in 20 games for the Los Angeles Sparks during the 2025 season, averaging 1.7 points and 1.2 rebounds in a limited role.

Those numbers may not immediately jump off the page, but Russell is not arriving in Indiana to become a featured scorer. Her primary responsibilities will be defending the paint, screening, rebounding and giving Boston valuable opportunities to rest. Her experience could be especially important for a Fever team with postseason expectations.

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Indiana’s demanding schedule could create an immediate opportunity

Russell joined the Fever for practice Monday, but Indiana has not announced whether she will be available for Tuesday’s game against the New York Liberty.

The timing of her arrival could force the Fever to get her involved quickly. Indiana will play three more games during a five-day stretch after facing New York. That condensed schedule will make it difficult for coach Stephanie White to lean too heavily on Boston or use undersized lineups for extended periods.

Russell acknowledged that learning an unfamiliar system during the season comes with challenges, but she believes her previous experience will help make the transition easier.

“A lot of the terminology may not be too familiar, but basketball is basketball,” Russell said. “At the end of the day, you kind of just go out there and play.”

The Fever enter Tuesday’s matchup with a 20-12 record and a narrow lead in a crowded Eastern Conference race. Washington and Atlanta are each only a half-game behind Indiana, while New York is also within striking distance.

Every rotation decision carries added importance with the playoff race tightening. Dantas’ injury created an unexpected hole at a difficult point in the schedule. Russell will now receive an opportunity to help fill it, and her first impression of Indiana suggests she is eager to begin.

“The turnout is amazing,” Russell said of the Fever’s fan support. “Going from an opponent to now being firsthand, I’m excited.”

Russell may not need to wait long for her first chance to experience that support from the other side.

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