The sun may have set on the latest era of WNBA basketball in Connecticut, but the franchise hasn’t wasted any time rebuilding the roster.
After losing all five starters in just a few days this offseason, the Connecticut Sun have made a couple of swift moves– signing former UConn women’s basketball star and future Hall of Famer Tina Charles on Sunday and on Monday agreeing to a one-year deal with former WNBA All-Star Diamond DeShields.
DeShields, a 29-year-old guard who played her college ball at North Carolina and Tennessee, spent last season with the Chicago Sky, averaging 4.5 points and 1.3 assists in 13.8 minutes per game. It was her first season back in the WNBA after missing all of 2023 with a knee injury.
Prior to the injury, DeShields, the third overall pick in the 2018 draft, averaged nearly 14 points per game in four full seasons with the Chicago Sky and Phoenix Mercury. She was an All-Star with Chicago in 2019 and helped lead the Sky to a WNBA title in 2021.
The 6-1 guard is also the daughter of former major league outfielder Delino DeShields, who played 13 seasons with five teams.
“We are thrilled to welcome Diamond to the Connecticut Sun,” Sun General Manager Morgan Tuck said in a release. “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. We believe this is a great fit for Diamond as she continues to elevate her career and for our team as we work towards our shared goals.”
WNBA free agency: What’s next for Connecticut Sun in 2025 after losing entire starting lineup?
The signing comes as Connecticut looks to rebuild after losing most of its production from last season. Connecticut sent five-time All-Star and MVP candidate Alyssa Thomas to the Phoenix Mercury in a sign-and-trade last week, traded 2024 WNBA Most Improved Player DiJonai Carrington to Dallas, and lost multi-time All-Stars DeWanna Bonner and Brionna Jones to the Indiana Fever and Atlanta Dream, respectively, in free agency. Starting point guard Tyasha Harris was also sent to Phoenix in the Thomas deal, though the Mercury dealt her to Dallas to acquire Satou Sabally.
With so many of its key pieces, including Thomas, Bonner and Jones, hitting free agency, this had long been set up to be a tumultuous offseason for the Sun, who had reached at least the WNBA semifinals in six straight seasons.
