Diamond DeShields

Diamond DeShields recently joined the Phoenix Mercury after playing a successful season overseas in Italy.  Prior to that, Diamond was a leading contributor to the overall success of the Chicago Sky where she became a WNBA champion.  She was drafted out of the University of Tennessee with the No. 3 overall pick of the 2018 WNBA Draft.  She celebrated her 1,000th WNBA career point when she poured in a career-high 30 points against Connecticut. DeShields also made her WNBA All-Star debut, walking away from All-Star Weekend as champion of the 2019 WNBA Skills Challenge. The Atlanta, Georgia native’s sophomore season performance led her to earn All-WNBA honors for the first time, being named to the All-WNBA Second Team.

          In December 2019, while playing overseas in Italy, DeShields suffered a back injury. An MRI following the injury revealed that she had a tumor on her spine, which posed a serious risk of permanent paralysis. After surgery to remove the tumor, DeShields suffered tremors and involuntary spasms and spent months rehabilitating without certainty of whether she would be able to return to play. She decided to keep her condition and surgery experiences private, until recently sharing them in an exclusive ESPN interview with Holly Rowe.

          During the 2020 season, DeShields entered the bubble environment during the COVID-19 pandemic with limited play due to injury. However, in 2021, DeShields averaged 26.9 minutes and 11.3 points per game, becoming an integral part in getting the Chicago Sky to the WNBA Finals. The Sky won the series in four games against the Phoenix Mercury and became World Champions. In 2022, the Phoenix Mercury acquired Diamond DeShields as a restricted free agent and she is already making an impact, averaging 27.8 mins and 15 points per game.

          DeShields comes from a family of elite athletes. Her mother, Tisha DeShields was a heptathlete for the University of Tennessee. Her father, Delino DeShields Sr., played 13 MLB seasons with the Expos, Dodgers, Cardinals, Orioles, and the Cubs and is now a coach for the Cincinnati Reds. Her brother, Delino DeShields Jr is a center fielder for the Atlanta Braves.