Veteran WNBA guard and former Tennessee Lady Vols standout Diamond DeShields has been waived by the Connecticut Sun, the team announced Wednesday. The move comes just days before the 2025 WNBA regular season tips off.

DeShields, 29, was the final roster cut as the Sun trimmed down to the league’s mandated 12-player limit. She had signed a one-year unprotected contract with the Sun during the offseason, making the decision to release her all the more surprising.

❗ Why Did the Connecticut Sun Waive Diamond DeShields?

DeShields missed most of training camp due to a lingering ankle injury and did not appear in either of the Sun’s preseason games. Despite being one of only five players on the roster with more than three years of WNBA experience, the injury left her unable to make a final case for a spot.

She was expected to be a key veteran addition to a Sun team that lost several core players during the offseason due to trades and free agency.

📉 DeShields’ WNBA Career: A Promising Start, Followed by Setbacks

• Drafted No. 3 overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2018 WNBA Draft

• WNBA All-Star and All-WNBA Second Team in 2019

• WNBA champion with the Sky in 2021 alongside Candace Parker

• Career averages (2018–2024):

  • 11.3 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.2 SPG (peak 2021 season)

  • 13.1 PPG with Phoenix in 2022

  • 4.5 PPG in 32 games for Chicago in 2024

DeShields has had a turbulent path since 2020, when she underwent spinal cord surgery to remove a tumor, which caused significant nerve damage. Her recovery was remarkable, but she later suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2023 with the Dallas Wings and did not play a single game that year.

🎓 College Roots: Lady Vols Legacy

Before her professional career, DeShields was a star at Tennessee, averaging 17.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in her redshirt junior year. She was an All-SEC First Team selection and played overseas in Turkey before entering the WNBA in 2018.

🔍 What’s Next for Diamond DeShields?

With this latest roster cut, DeShields now becomes a free agent, and her future in the WNBA remains uncertain. However, her experience, resilience, and scoring ability could still make her a valuable midseason pickup for teams dealing with injuries or depth issues.