Diamond DeShields, born on March 5, 1995, in West Palm Beach, Florida, is an American professional basketball player currently playing for the Connecticut Sun in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).
Known for her dynamic athleticism and scoring ability, she was selected third overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2018 WNBA Draft and won a championship with the team in 2021.
Diamond hails from a remarkably athletic family, with her father, Delino DeShields Sr., a former Major League Baseball (MLB) player, and her mother, Tisha DeShields, an All-American heptathlete from the University of Tennessee.
Siblings
Diamond is one of five children in the DeShields family, each inheriting a slice of their parents’ athletic prowess.
Delino DeShields Jr., born August 16, 1992, is the eldest sibling and a professional baseball player. Like his father, he pursued a career in MLB, drafted eighth overall by the Houston Astros in 2010.
He has played for teams such as the Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians, and Cincinnati Reds, and currently plays for the Piratas de Campeche in the Mexican League.
D’Angelo DeShields is less publicly documented, but as part of the DeShields clan, he grew up in the same athletic environment.
While he hasn’t pursued a high-profile professional sports career like Delino Jr. or Diamond, the family’s emphasis on drive and talent suggests he too inherited their competitive spirit.
Denim DeShields, the youngest of the full siblings, has specific athletic pursuits that are not widely detailed in public records.
However, being raised alongside Diamond and Delino Jr., she was part of a household where sports were a central focus, likely influencing her interests and activities.
Diamond has spoken fondly of her upbringing, recalling how she and Delino Jr., in particular, wrote “contracts” as kids, dreaming of professional sports careers with astronomical figures.
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Career
Diamond’s first made waves at Norcross High School in Georgia, leading the team to three state championships and averaging 26 points per game in her senior year.
Her college career began at the University of North Carolina, where she set an Atlantic Coast Conference freshman scoring record with 648 points in the 2013-14 season.
After transferring to the University of Tennessee, she played two seasons with the Lady Volunteers, leading the team with 17.4 points per game in 2016-17 and earning All-Southeastern Conference First Team honors.
Opting to forgo her final year of college eligibility, Diamond played professionally in Turkey with Çukurova Basketbol before entering the 2018 WNBA Draft.
Her rookie season with the Chicago Sky saw her average 14.4 points per game, earning All-Rookie Team honors.
In 2019, she became a WNBA All-Star and won the Skills Challenge, though her season was later interrupted by a spinal tumor diagnosis in Turkey, requiring surgery and a grueling recovery.
She returned in 2020, contributing to the Sky’s 2021 championship run.
Since then, Diamond has played for the Phoenix Mercury in 2022, Dallas Wings in 2023, and returned to the Chicago Sky in 2024 before signing with the Connecticut Sun in 2025.
Injuries, including a knee issue that sidelined her for the 2023 season, have tested her resilience, but her career remains a highlight reel of adaptability and grit.
Accolades
DeShields’ trophy case reflects her impact on the court. She is a WNBA Champion, winning with the Chicago Sky in 2021.
She was named a WNBA All-Star in 2019 and won the WNBA Skills Challenge that same year. In 2018, she earned a spot on the WNBA All-Rookie Team.
During her college years, she was selected to the All-Southeastern Conference First Team in 2016-17 at Tennessee and was named ACC Freshman of the Year in 2013-14 at UNC.
She also received National Freshman of the Year honors in 2013-14 from multiple outlets, including espnW and USBWA. In high school, she secured three Georgia state championships with Norcross High School while averaging 26 points per game as a senior.
Her postseason debut in 2019 also stands out, scoring 25 points against the Phoenix Mercury—the fifth-most by a WNBA player in a playoff debut.
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