The maddening promise of Diamond DeShields

Reputation of extreme land. A confusing resume. Many questions. DF Diamond Desirs, who has been playing in Chicago Sky for two years, is a turning point for a young professional career. What was the question? Her cool talent. Witten Sabatini (ESPN)

Katie Burns ESPN. com August 29, 2019 11:05 et

Katie Burns is an ESPN writer / reporter. COM reporter. Follow Katie_barness3 on Twitter.

DIAMOND DESHIELDS features middl e-aged men running around Chicago Sky's practice area. In July 2018, she drove to the saxophone entertainment center 40 km north of downtown for weekend workouts. She thought that no one was in the gymnasium, but instead, she was sweaty on the black silhouette of the Chicago Sky logo, carved on a hard tree in the practice area used by Chicago Bulls for many years. A horde of men ran through.

Desires needs to find another practice place.

She opened the door of the team room, grabbed the orange and white WNBA ball, left the gymnasium, passed the pool and the reception, and took her coach Michael Murphy to the gymnasium.

The mesh is suspended between the two lanes of high school size, and the cramped space is even more cramped. Pickup games are being played on both lanes, but De Shields accounts for the last half. Murphy chooses a bench for her, wears shoes in the meantime, so that she does not fall on a hard wooden floor. On the other side, four boys are playing 2on2, but I don't know who they are warm up 10 meters away.

She is addicted to soccer. When she was a child in Georgia, she fueled the men in Nampa. They didn't know who she was. It was personality, not a drawback. She took their money regularly.

"As a woman, you are underestimated every day." It was fun and easy. "

From year 1 to year 2

Diamond Desirs	2018	2019
Ppg	14. 4	16. 2
RPG	4.9	5.5
APG	2.2	2.4
SPG	1.1	1.3
Net rating	-8	-2

De Shields on the pitch catches a path from Murphy. She bounces the ball between her crotch, catches it and puts it into a square. She cooks it again. once again. In this replay, she flies the ball. Because Swish WNBA has no thre e-point sections, she runs behind the corner, catches the ball and throws it out of the lane.

"And Murphy says.

Start the thre e-pointed section as it is and throw it. When she turns to the wing from behind, her feet hits the mesh. If you are thrown in the ball, you can recover and bring back the ball. Murphy drives Desires on the court and practices in practice. Until you see her back sweat, everything looks simple.

The ball at the end of the site is rolled by a haft and flies to the feet in front of Desirs. During the training, she looks at the ball facing the wall on the side. She doesn't chase.

"I'm sorry!" - In order to catch a wandering ball, invite the men once. Death Seals does not move from space and waits for this young man to leave her course. He returns to his floor.

She shakes her head with a smile, cooks and throws her.

The only thing is that it actually has the ability to stay under control.

When Diamond was four years old, he was sitting in a kitchen in Atlanta with his younger brother, Debayable. There was a small scissors on the table. Diamond was inspired by curiosity. She decided to cut something. She reduced her cells.

Delino saw Diamond cutting her cells. "Did you cut it with scissors?- She asked him.

"Yes," Delino in his seventh year answered. And she cut her cells.

"Let me make you," Diamond handed scissors to his brother.

One hour later, while they were playing, their mother, Tisha, saw two from the edge of the room. It seemed to have something. Tisha was looking at them until they understood what was going on. She was grumpy.

"I was like this!

Diamond Decidires, the founder of the Texas Rangers Team, the center field, and the founder of his seniors who played in the Top League for 13 years. According to her text, baseball was her best love. Diamond Desirs

For Diamond Decil, the "eyelash incident" was not unusual. Delino, that is, Reno, where Diamond calls, was silent. Diamond? Trouble maker. She is a younger sister with huge thoughts. She, a person who tells the story. "As an older brother, I supported her every time," says Delino. < SPAN> Start the thre e-pointed section as it is and throw it. When she turns to the wing from behind, her feet hits the mesh. If you are thrown in the ball, you can recover and bring back the ball. Murphy drives Desires on the court and practices in practice. Until you see her back sweat, everything looks simple.

The ball at the end of the site is rolled by a haft and flies to the feet in front of Desirs. During the training, she looks at the ball facing the wall on the side. She doesn't chase.

"I'm sorry!" - In order to catch a wandering ball, invite the men once. Death Seals does not move from space and waits for this young man to leave her course. He returns to his floor.

She shakes her head with a smile, cooks and throws her.

The only thing is that it actually has the ability to stay under control.

When Diamond was four years old, he was sitting in a kitchen in Atlanta with his younger brother, Debayable. There was a small scissors on the table. Diamond was inspired by curiosity. She decided to cut something. She reduced her cells.

Delino saw Diamond cutting her cells. "Did you cut it with scissors?- She asked him.

"Yes," Delino in his seventh year answered. And she cut her cells.

"Let me make you," Diamond handed scissors to his brother.

One hour later, while they were playing, their mother, Tisha, saw two from the edge of the room. It seemed to have something. Tisha was looking at them until they understood what was going on. She was grumpy.

"I was like this!

Diamond Decidires, the founder of the Texas Rangers Team, the center field, and the founder of his seniors who played in the Top League for 13 years. According to her text, baseball was her best love. Diamond Desirs

For Diamond Decil, the "eyelash incident" was not unusual. Delino, that is, Reno, where Diamond calls, was silent. Diamond? Trouble maker. She is a younger sister with huge thoughts. She, a person who tells the story. "As an older brother, I supported her every time," says Delino. Start the thre e-pointed section as it is and throw it. When she turns to the wing from behind, her feet hits the mesh. If you are thrown in the ball, you can recover and bring back the ball. Murphy drives Desires on the court and practices in practice. Until you see her back sweat, everything looks simple.

The ball at the end of the site is rolled by a haft and flies to the feet in front of Desirs. During the training, she looks at the ball facing the wall on the side. She doesn't chase.

"I'm sorry!" - In order to catch a wandering ball, invite the men once. Death Seals does not move from space and waits for this young man to leave her course. He returns to his floor.

She shakes her head with a smile, cooks and throws her.

The only thing is that it actually has the ability to stay under control.

When Diamond was four years old, he was sitting in a kitchen in Atlanta with his younger brother, Debayable. There was a small scissors on the table. Diamond was inspired by curiosity. She decided to cut something. She reduced her cells.

Delino saw Diamond cutting her cells. "Did you cut it with scissors?- She asked him.

"Yes," Delino in his seventh year answered. And she cut her cells.

"Let me make you," Diamond handed scissors to his brother.

One hour later, while they were playing, their mother, Tisha, saw two from the edge of the room. It seemed to have something. Tisha was looking at them until they understood what was going on. She was grumpy.

"I was like this!

Diamond Decidires, the founder of the Texas Rangers Team, the center field, and the founder of his seniors who played in the Top League for 13 years. According to her text, baseball was her best love. Diamond Desirs

For Diamond Decil, the "eyelash incident" was not unusual. Delino, that is, Reno, where Diamond calls, was silent. Diamond? Trouble maker. She is a younger sister with huge thoughts. She, a person who tells the story. "As an older brother, I supported her every time," says Delino.

But just as Reno, for example, was content to follow her sister's wishes, Diamond was content in her own world: the world of baseball. After all, their founder was a major leaguer, a 13-year veteran who won the NL Rookie of the Year award, stole 463 bases in his career, and one year led the National League in triples.

Diamond was also as playful as the boys with whom he played T-ball. They spent their time kicking balls and playing catch in the backyard. The family has photos of Diamond in a cheerleader uniform and with a baseball glove on her arm.

"She always wanted to play catch with her dad," Delino Sr. says.

When Diamond was 10, she decided to sign up for her first sanctioned basketball game. For the family, nothing was the same. She'd played at home for years before, but never joined an official league. But it didn't mean much.

They read, "You don't doubt that she's 10?" Tisha says. "They doubted her birth certificate."

After Diamond's sensational performance in the tournament, Tisha recommended her daughter for an expensive AAU regional team. Thanks to her own athleticism and excellent jumping ability, Diamond transformed into one of the best high school prospects in the country. At 16 years old, she was selected as the 2011 U19 USA National Team. She was a two-time Miss Georgia Basketball and averaged 26 points, 7 rebounds, 3-8 assists, 4-5 steals per game her senior season. During her senior year, she was the Global Association of Basketball Coaches Player of the Year and the Naismith High School Girls Player of the Year. She was named the best girls basketball player in the world by the McDonald's All-American, WBCA All-American, and Parade Magazine All-American. She won three state championships at Norcross High School and was a member of the USA Basketball team.

Her potential was clear. Every institution wanted to get her. But DeShields had a plan, and she controlled the story every time.

It was DeShields who convinced her mother to move to Norcross, Georgia, a suburb 20 miles northeast of Atlanta, so she could attend Norcross High School. It was DeShields who organized a historic team at UNC, but after a year she left for Tennessee. It was DeShields who left Tennessee, later saying she would return for her senior year.

But now, Desires is a new star of WNBA and has the ability to control it. She has the ability to work out in the gym and control the ability to control what kind of teammates considered. She has the opportunity to actually control the fact that she cooks with her body and actually cooks with her own resources. However, WNBA supports the team that plays the role of NFL's franchise tag, and has acknowledged the right to conclude the future of the players.

Death Seals has the ability to solve the place to speak abroad, but not here, not WNBA.

From North Carolina to Tennessee, from Turkey to Chicag o-DESHILDS roads to WNBA stars were full of conflicts. According to his lyrics now, "I am satisfied with my conclusions. I have kept my heart and have never harmed anyone." Witten Sabatini (ESPN)

Sit at a Fadrackers restaurant table in Northbrook, the suburbs of Chicago, and hit the food. DesShields welcomes potatoes from free bowls and milk cocktails, with a dream, new day, and a valuable off day for breakfast with teammates.

I usually,, for example, she, she wrote in a cafe in the district a few hours ago, with a strawberry-France health, scramble egg and cheesecake-brownie, the carbohydrates of the Batter and Berry '-"Fuddruckers" to speak. Along with this victory.

She doesn't like complete potatoes. Demonstration of wedge potatoes.

"For me, this is not a free potato, but another," she says and puts the smallest part into the one.

She was tired. The 2018 Al l-Star interval is approaching, and Desirs is ready to relax. She has a valuable opportunity to eat as much as she likes, without worrying about the load on training or having no time for this IRGE. The league match is flowing at the Ledel pace for the FIBA ​​World Cup at the end of September.

This is not the first time her career will be random. In fact, her journey on WNBA was a series of cruel intentions and sudden withdrawal.

Everything started with the Pat Summit. Discyilding Basically, every time I plan to freeze "Lady Vol" as her mother, but when it comes to conclusion by completing the secondary education institution, the Summit Diagnosi s-Alzheimer's diseas e-confusion Given the process of selecting Desshields. "My conclusion is no longer easy," she says.

She has already removed UCONN, Duke and Maryland from the list. Only UNC remains. Desires thought it was a chance to r e-influence the current status of university basketball. She picked up the phone. She knew the seventh place Alasha Gray since I was in elementary school. She met Jessica Washington and Stephanie Mbunga-14th and 23rd place, each of which she was acquainted with UNC and contacted her to discuss the recruitment process. When Desires called, they all decided to transfer to UNC with her. About that day

"We were tied with a strong bond, but I was the only one who supported them," says Desires.

Until she does so. Nobody has graduated from college. Desires first left university. Desires wanted this since he was enrolled, and had called his mother every time. "Since August of the third grade, she had to stop her luggage on a truck," said Tisha.

There are many reasons why Desirs were dissatisfied. When Desires was in UNC, she wasn't training-at that point she hadn't trained for more than a year. She had a stress fracture on the left tibia that she had been suffering from high school for the first time in high school. She decided to postpone the surgery and wore a cleat when she was not in the field. He received platma injections, which is rich in platelets, and often cried while sleeping too much. Nevertheless, he recorded an average of 18 points, 5, 4 rebounds, and 1, 7 steel, and was selected as the rookie king.

Desires did not reveal the reason for the transfer and did not comment on the transfer publicly, but he did not regret. "I don't mind saying what I say.

"She should have worked more for us. I think she understands everything now. She has the maturity that she wasn't in college." Former Holly Wallick Tennessee

However, when she left the UNC in April 2014 and announced the transfer to Tennessee two months later, the public reaction was not calm:

"Diamond Desirs lifted the roof and raised the red flag. < SPAN> She had already removed UCONN, Duke and Maryland from the list. Only UNC is the remaining. Desires will r e-influence the current situation of the university basketball. She thought she was a sixth grade of Jessica Washington and 23rd in her sixth grade. During the visit to UNC, when they called on the recruitment process, they decided to transfer to UNC with her.

"We were tied with a strong bond, but I was the only one who supported them," says Desires.

Diamond Desirs

There are many reasons why Desirs were dissatisfied. When Desires was in UNC, she wasn't training-at that point she hadn't trained for more than a year. She had a stress fracture on the left tibia that she had been suffering from high school for the first time in high school. She decided to postpone the surgery and wore a cleat when she was not in the field. He received platma injections, which is rich in platelets, and often cried while sleeping too much. Nevertheless, he recorded an average of 18 points, 5, 4 rebounds, and 1, 7 steel, and was selected as the rookie king.

Desires did not reveal the reason for the transfer and did not comment on the transfer publicly, but he did not regret. "I don't mind saying what I say.

"She should have worked more for us. I think she understands everything now. She has the maturity that she wasn't in college." Former Holly Wallick Tennessee

However, when she left the UNC in April 2014 and announced the transfer to Tennessee two months later, the public reaction was not calm:

"Diamond Desirs lifted the roof and raised the red flag. She has already removed UCONN, Duke and Maryland from the list. Only UNC is the only time for Desires to affect the current status of university basketball. She came up with her 7th place in her sixth grade and 23rd place in her sixth grade. When he got acquainted with the recruitment process, they decided to transfer to UNC with her.

"We were tied with a strong bond, but I was the only one who supported them," says Desires.

Until she does so. Nobody has graduated from college. Desires first left university. Desires wanted this since he was enrolled, and had called his mother every time. "Since August of the third grade, she had to stop her luggage on a truck," said Tisha.

There are many reasons why Desirs were dissatisfied. When Desires was in UNC, she wasn't training-at that point she hadn't trained for more than a year. She had a stress fracture on the left tibia that she had been suffering from high school for the first time in high school. She decided to postpone the surgery and wore a cleat when she was not in the field. He received platma injections, which is rich in platelets, and often cried while sleeping too much. Nevertheless, he recorded an average of 18 points, 5, 4 rebounds, and 1, 7 steel, and was selected as the rookie king.

Desires did not reveal the reason for the transfer and did not comment on the transfer publicly, but he did not regret. "I don't mind saying what I say.

"She should have worked more for us. I think she understands everything now. She has the maturity that she wasn't in college." Former Holly Wallick Tennessee

However, when she left the UNC in April 2014 and announced the transfer to Tennessee two months later, the public reaction was not calm:

"Diamond Desirs lifted the roof and raised the red flag.

Former UNC head coach Sylvia Hatchell told the Herald-Sun newspaper in Durham, "And I met her before she left. I always asked her, 'Tell me how this happened,' and she couldn't say."

The rumors about women's basketball continued. That fall, a Sports Illustrated article dedicated to Hatchell, who had returned after cancer treatment, said Dechel's absence had a positive effect on team chemistry. It also said, "I'm very happy with my decision. I know my heart and I've never done any harm to anyone."

She says Tennessee is where she's always wanted to be. I'm not there yet. In the summer of 2017, with one year left until the end of her career, DeShields announced her departure from Knoxville.

Today, DeShields says she intended to return to Tennessee. That season, the Oxen had a historic lineup of powerhouses, many of whom she helped draw to the program. She told four freshmen she was returning. She did the same with the coaching staff. Mercedes Russell, a friend of Mercedes', had roomed with DeShields in Atlanta earlier in the summer.

But a nagging sense of discomfort -- a desire to stay alive -- kept DeShields up at night. And this leg. When she arrived in Knoxville a year ago, she had surgery to remove a stress fracture in her left leg. She rehabbed, missed a year for NCAA reasons, and when she was finally allowed to practice, she started to feel the pain again.

She told her coaches. She told them about this training staff. They did X-rays and magnetic resonance scans, but they were fine. A BEM scan revealed another stress reaction, this time in her ankle. DeShields, who decided to attend an off-campus physical therapy session, argued with the coaching staff about which shoes she should wear.

There was no trust, she says. She'd already graduated from college with a degree in communications. So why did she come back? "You play professional basketball in college. You practice every day, you play in games, but you don't get paid. Former UNC head coach Sylvia Hatchell told the Herald-Sun newspaper in Durham, "And I met her before she left. I kept asking her, 'Tell me how this happened,' and she couldn't say."

The rumors about women's basketball continued. That fall, a Sports Illustrated article dedicated to Hatchell, who had returned after cancer treatment, said Detchell's absence had a positive effect on team chemistry. And it said:

"I'm very happy with my decision. I know my heart and I've never done any harm to anyone."

She says Tennessee is where she's always wanted to be. I'm not yet. In the summer of 2017, with one year left until the end of her career, DeShields announced her departure from Knoxville.

Today, DeShields says she intended to return to Tennessee. That season, the Oxen had a historic lineup of powerhouses, and she helped recruit many of them to the program. She told her four freshmen she was returning. She did the same to the coaching staff. Mercedes Russell, a friend of Mercedes', had roomed with DeShields in Atlanta for the first half of the summer.