Standout guard Diamond DeShields is leaving the Lady Vols program, head coach Holly Warlick announced Friday.
“Diamond has opted to forego her final collegiate season,” Warlick said in a university email. “She earned a degree from UT and now has a chance to play professionally.”
DeShields stated in April that she would be staying at Tennessee for her redshirt senior season, opting not to enter the WNBA Draft.
The Norcross, Georgia, native led Tennessee with 17.4 points per game last year and was named Coaches All-SEC First Team and WBCA Honorable Mention All-American.
DeShields is the third player to depart from the team this offseason. Guards Alexa Middleton and Te’a Cooper both transferred out of the program earlier this year.
“I am pleased with the commitment of our talented group of returnees and highly-regarded freshman class, and I have been encouraged with the talent, chemistry, attitude, work ethic and intensity that have been displayed thus far during off-season workouts,” Warlick said. “Our staff can’t wait to continue building on that.
“We look forward to welcoming senior Kortney Dunbar and freshman Evina Westbrook to campus for the second summer session and are very excited about the future of this program, both for the upcoming season and in the years to come.”
