WNBA Team Abruptly Cuts Ties With Former All-Star & Champion One Day Before Season
The 2025 WNBA regular season begins Friday. On the eve of opening night, though, the Connecticut Sun are still finalizing their roster.
On Thursday, the Sun announced they have made a surprising roster move, waiving former All-Star guard Diamond DeShields.
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The 2025 season was expected to be DeShields' first with the Sun. Connecticut signed the guard to a one-year contract in February.
'We are thrilled to welcome Diamond to the Connecticut Sun,' said Sun General Manager Morgan Tuck on Feb. 3. '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."
Tuck also called DeShields a "great fit" for the Sun.
WNBA guard Diamond DeShields© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
DeShields made the WNBA All-Star Team and second-team All-WNBA during the 2019 season with the Chicago Sky. In 2019, DeShields averaged 16.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
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During the 2021 season, she averaged 11.3 points and 3.5 rebounds per game for the Sky, who won the WNBA championship.
DeShields joined the Phoenix Mercury in 2022 after four seasons with Chicago. She played one season for the Mercury and then missed the 2023 campaign because of a knee injury.
Last season, DeShields returned to the Sky, where she averaged a career-low 4.5 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists per contest.
The Sky drafted DeShields at No. 3 overall in the 2018 WNBA Draft. During her college career, she starred as a freshman with the North Carolina Tar Heels. DeShields then transferred to the Tennessee Volunteers, where she made the All-conference team twice.
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DeShields comes from an athletic family. Her father, Delino, played 13 seasons in the MLB. Her brother, Delino DeShields Jr., also played Major League Baseball.
The 2025 WNBA regular season begins Friday night. The Sun will play their first game Sunday against the Washington Mystics.
Related: WNBA Roster Cuts Include Former 14 Points Per Game Award Winner
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