KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – An SEC-leading seven LVFLs have been members of WNBA rosters this season, with six currently active with teams.
Diamond DeShields and Candace Parker have combined to fuel a five-game win streak in Chicago, and Mercedes Russell has worked her way into the starting lineup for top-ranked Seattle. Below are summaries of each Lady Vol alum’s results through June 21.
WNBA All-Star voting is open and fans can vote online for their favorite players.
Rennia Davis
6-2 / G-F / Minnesota Lynx / 1st Season
Davis remains sidelined in her first season in the WNBA due to a stress fracture in her left foot…She was the No. 9 overall pick in the 2021 draft by the Lynx.
Next Game: June 23 at Atlanta (7 p.m. ET, BSSEX-ATL, Bally Sports North+, TSN5)
Diamond DeShields
6-1 / G / Chicago Sky / 4th Season
DeShields has started in all 14 games thus far for the Sky, averaging 12.6 ppg., 4.0 rpg., 2.9 apg. and 1.4 spg. while seeing 31.4 minutes of action per contest…Has logged nine double-digit contests thus far, most recently notching 14 points, two rebounds and an assist in Chicago’s win over Connecticut…Is currently the Sky’s second-leading scorer (12.6 ppg.) behind only Kahleah Copper (14.0 ppg.)
Next Game: June 22 at New York (7 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime, YES App, The U)
Isabelle Harrison
6-3 / F / Dallas Wings / 5th Season
Rejoined the Wings after concluding postseason play overseas and has seen action in 13 games, starting in two…Is averaging 7.8 ppg. and 6.3 rpg. while playing 22.6 minutes per contest for Dallas…Has managed double-digit scoring in five games and recorded a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds against Seattle on May 22…Narrowly missed a double-double on June 13 against Las Vegas with 13 points and nine boards.
Next Game: June 22 at Connecticut (7 p.m. ET, NESN+, Bally Sports SW, TSN3/5)
Candace Parker
6-4 / F-C / Chicago Sky / 14th Season
Has only played in six games due to an ankle injury…She saw her first action for the Sky against Washington on May 15, scoring 16 points and grabbing eight boards…Has started in all six appearances, averaging 11.5 ppg., 8.0 rpg. and 1.3 bpg. in 26.3 mpg….Parker put up a double-double against Indiana on June 12 with 20 points and 14 rebounds…Chicago is currently riding a five-game win streak and sitting at fifth place in the league with a record of 7-7.
Next Game: June 22 at New York (7 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime, YES App, The U)
Mercedes Russell
6-6 / C / Seattle Storm / 4th Season
After concluding play overseas, Russell rejoined the Storm and has seen action in 12 contests, starting in 10…Defending WNBA champion Seattle currently sits atop the standings with a 12-2 record through June 21…Russell is averaging 5.8 ppg., 6.0 rpg., 1.7 apg. and 1.0 spg. while playing 22.4 minutes per game…She notched season bests of 12 points vs. Dallas on June 4 and 11 rebounds vs. Indiana on June 1…In her most recent outing against Indiana on June 17, she scored eight points and pulled down five rebounds.
Next Game: June 22 at Washington (10 p.m. ET, JoeTV, Monumental)
Shekinna Stricklen
6-2 / G-F / Atlanta Dream / 10th Season
Has seen action in seven games for the Dream…She is averaging 1.3 ppg. and 0.6 rpg. over 8.0 minutes per contest…Her best outing came against Indiana on May 21, when she connected on all but one of her four three-point attempts en route to nine points in five minutes of action.
Next Game: June 23 vs. Minnesota (7 p.m. ET, BSSEX-ATL, Bally Sports North+, TSN5)
Cierra Burdick
6-2 / F / Minnesota Lynx (Inactive) / 5th Season
Signed a temporary contract with Phoenix during training camp…Played four games for the Mercury before being released on May 26…Saw 4.8 minutes of action per game during that span for Phoenix, averaging 1.0 points and 1.8 rebounds while shooting 50 percent from the field…Signed a similar temporary agreement with the Minnesota Lynx on June 15, appearing in three contests before being released on June 21…She played a season-high eight minutes against Chicago on June 15, turning in six points and a rebound.
-UT Athletics
