With the WNBA a little more than a third of the way through the regular season, several former Lady Vols are making an impact for their respective teams. Earlier today Diamond DeShields logged her first double-double in the WNBA, leading Chicago in scoring and rebounding with 23 points and 11 rebounds in a win over Atlanta.
Candace Parker is pacing the first-place Los Angeles Sparks in scoring. Parker is coming off a season-high performance on Tuesday, logging 29 points against fellow LVFL Glory Johnson and the Wings at home.
Johnson had nine points and five rebounds in the contest and will be back in action at 10 p.m. ET tonight as the Wings travel to Las Vegas (NBA TV), hitting the court for their third game in four days. Shekinna Stricklen is also in action this evening, hosting the Indiana Fever at 7 p.m. ET (NBA TV, NBCSB).
In WNBA action on Thursday, Mercedes Russell and the Storm will host Parker and the Sparks at 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN 2).
On Friday, DeShields will hit the court at 7:30 p.m. ET in New York (League Pass, MSG+, The U Too), and Parker and Jaime Nared will square off when the Aces host the Sparks at 10:30 p.m. (League Pass, SPECSN).
Diamond DeShields
Chicago Sky | G | 1st Season
DeShields has started 13 games for the Sky and is the team’s second-leading scorer, averaging 13.1 ppg. Chicago is currently in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 5-9.
Isabelle Harrison
Las Vegas Aces | F/C | 3rd Season
Harrison remains on the Aces’ roster but is taking a personal leave of absence due to medical reasons, per an April 28 report from the franchise.
Glory Johnson
Dallas Wings | F | 6th Season
Johnson returned to action on June 8 after missing five games due to an injury suffered in the Wings’ season-opener. She has appeared in eight games this season, starting two, and is averaging 7.9 ppg and 5.0 rpg. Dallas is currently residing in fifth place in the Western Conference with a record of 6-7.
Jaime Nared
Las Vegas Aces | G/F | 1st Season
Nared has appeared in all 14 games for the Aces, averaging 11.0 mpg, 3.1 ppg and 1.4 rpg. She posted a season-high 10 points on June 8 against Atlanta.
Candace Parker
Los Angeles Sparks | F/C | 11th Season
Parker is the leading scorer for the Sparks through 14 games, averaging 16.7 ppg. After missing three games due to injury early in the season, she’s appeared in every game since, averaging 28.5 mpg. Her field goal percentage of 54.0 ranks tenth-best in the WNBA. With a record of 11-3, Los Angeles currently owns the best record in the league.
Mercedes Russell
Seattle Storm | C | 1st Season
Originally drafted 22nd overall by New York, Russell saw action in two games for the Liberty before signing with Seattle. Through a total of ten WNBA appearances she is averaging 8.1 mpg, 1.8 rpg and 1.7 ppg. She pulled down a season-high eight rebounds against Las Vegas on May 31. Seattle is currently 10-5, putting the Storm in third place in the Western Conference.
Shekinna Stricklen
Connecticut Sun | G/F | 7th Season
Stricklen has seen action in all 14 games for the Sun, starting 11 and averaging 18.2 mpg and 6.2 ppg. The Sun is currently in second place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 8-6.
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