Arlington, TX (February 11, 2023) – The Dallas Wings have acquired All-Star guard Diamond DeShields, the Chicago Sky’s first round selection (fifth overall) in the 2023 WNBA Draft, Chicago’s first round selection in the 2024 WNBA Draft and the rights to swap first round selections with Chicago in the 2025 WNBA Draft in a four-team trade with the Chicago Sky, Phoenix Mercury and New York Liberty, the team announced today. In return, the Wings have traded the player contract of guard Marina Mabrey to the Sky.
“Diamond DeShields has established herself as one of the premier wing players in the WNBA,” Dallas Wings President & CEO Greg Bibb stated. “Her size, athleticism, ability to get to the rim and defensive acumen will make us a better basketball team. She also brings a wealth of playoff experience and a WNBA Championship with her to Dallas that will ultimately aid us in our continued pursuit of a championship of our own.”
DeShields, a 2018 All-WNBA Rookie Team member and 2021 WNBA Champion with the Sky, is entering her sixth season in the league. In 2022, her only season with the Phoenix Mercury, DeShields averaged nearly 14 points and four rebounds. For her career, she has posted an average of 13 points and four rebounds per game.
In 2019 with Chicago, DeShields started all 34 games for the team, averaging over 16 points and five rebounds. She led the Sky in scoring and finished eighth overall in the WNBA on her way to an All-WNBA Second Team selection. The third overall pick by the Sky in 2018, DeShields totaled over 14 points and nearly five rebounds per game in her first campaign in the league and was named a member of the 2018 WNBA All-Rookie Team.
The Norcross, Georgia native attended the University of Tennessee and was awarded All-SEC honors her final two seasons, when she led the Volunteers in scoring. As a freshman, she attended the University of North Carolina and was named to the All-ACC First Team and All-ACC Rookie Team.
DeShields’ mother Tisha was an All-American Track and Field athlete at the University of Tennessee and her father, Delino and older brother, Delino Jr., both played in the MLB for numerous seasons.
As a part of the four-team trade, Phoenix receives Chicago’s third round selection in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Chicago’s second round selection in the 2025 WNBA Draft and guard Michaela Onyenwere from the New York Liberty. The Liberty receives the rights to Leonie Fiebich, Chicago’s second round selection in the 2024 WNBA Draft and the rights to swap first round selections in the 2025 WNBA Draft with Phoenix. Chicago will also receive Phoenix’s second round selection in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
