CHICAGO (February 5, 2024) — The Chicago Sky announced today the team has signed guard Diamond DeShields. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“They say if it’s meant to be it’ll come back,” DeShields said. “Well ….. I’m back!”
DeShields rejoins the Sky after being sidelined during the 2023 season due to injury with the Dallas Wings. During the 2022 season with Phoenix, she recorded 13.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 30 games.
The Norcross, Georgia native had a breakout year in 2019, where she started all 34 games for the Sky and led the team in scoring en route to a 2019 WNBA All-Star selection, becoming a 2019 WNBA All-Star Skills Champion and a 2019 All-WNBA Second-Team honoree.
Drafted by the Sky in the third overall selection in the 2018 WNBA Draft, DeShields tallied an outstanding rookie year in Chicago. She averaged 14.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 28.5 minutes of play in her debut season, leading her to the 2018 WNBA All-Rookie Team and AP All-Rookie Team honors.
“We are very excited to bring Diamond back to Chicago and cannot wait to see her on the court again this season,” Chicago Sky General Manager Jeff Pagliocca said. “She is an all-around dynamic player with incredible athletic abilities and championship experience that can add to our roster in a Sky uniform once again.”
Over four seasons with the Sky, DeShields averaged 13.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 113 total games, including helping lead Chicago to a WNBA Championship in 2021.
DeShields began her college career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2013-14 before transferring to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In 101 collegiate appearances at both schools spanning three seasons, DeShields averaged 16.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.6 steals.
She was the 2013-14 ACC Rookie of the Year, also being named to the All-ACC First Team and ACC All-Freshman Team in the same year. During her time at Tennessee, she was named to the AP All-SEC Second Team and SEC All-Tournament Team in 2016. Her 17.4 points per game in the 2016-17 season are the fifth-most in a single season in Lady Volunteers history. She earned a nod to the Coaches All-SEC First Team at the end of the 2016-17 season.
After the conclusion of the 2016-17 season, DeShields opted to turn pro, signing with Çukurova BK. She also holds experience playing with Beretta Famila Schio in Italy, where she played in the 2019-20 and 2021-22 seasons.
The Chicago Sky tip off the 2024 regular season on Wednesday, May 15 against the Dallas Wings at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas at 7:00 p.m. CST. Follow @chicagosky on social media and head to sky.wnba.com for the latest news, content and ticket purchasing.