Diamond DeShields has signed with the Connecticut Sun, per the team. DeShields, 29, has played in six WNBA seasons, playing for the Chicago Sky and Phoenix Mercury. The University of Tennessee product and 2021 WNBA champion has averaged 11.6 points per game (PPG), 2.1 assists per game (APG), 3.7 rebounds per game (RPG), and 0.6 steals per game (SPG) on 34.8 percent from the field.
“Her wealth of experience and resilience through her career speaks to her exceptional character, dedication, and passion for the game. As a veteran in our league with championship experience, she brings a level of leadership, versatility, and competitiveness that will be invaluable both on and off the court,” said Sun general manager Morgan Tuck in the team’s release announcing the signing.
Welcome to Connecticut, @diamonddoesit1 🤝 pic.twitter.com/DCMjbB8RIb
— Connecticut Sun (@ConnecticutSun) February 3, 2025
DeShields can flex as a starter or bench player, but her impact is more notable on the court when healthy. She achieved an All-WNBA caliber season in 2019, in which she averaged 16.2 PPG and 5.5 RPG on nearly 40.0 percent from the field.
DeShields joins a Connecticut team that has seen a full revamp since the start of free agency. The Sun’s previous starting five of Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, DiJonai Carrington, Brionna Jones, and Ty Harris are all on different teams now. This leaves DeShields, Natasha Cloud,Tina Charles, Olivia Nelson-Ododa, and Marina Mabrey as the likely new starting lineup for the Sun headed into 2025.