2018 WNBA Draft Diary: Pick-by-pick updates, analysis, news

By Ben Dull | Apr 12, 2018

NEW YORK - APRIL 13: WNBA President Lisa Borders and WNBA Legend Dawn Staley poses for a photo during the 2017 WNBA Draft on April 13, 2017 at the Samsung 837 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Michelle Farsi/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 12: Diamond DeShields stands with WNBA President Lisa Borders after being selected /

Diamond DeShields is headed to the Chicago Sky.

In DeShields, the Sky get a 6’1 wing that can really fill it up. DeShields could be a player to lighten the load on point guard Courtney Vandersloot. The Sky’s turnover rate of 19.2% was the second-worst in the league in 2017.

On surface, the Sky immediately became much tougher to guard. Vandersloot, DeShields and Allie Quigley are all threats to put the ball on the deck to score or make a play for a teammate.

Chicago had the third-worst defensive rating in the league last season at 105.5. The Sky and their fans likely expect to compete for a playoff bid in 2018. In order to do so, they’ll need to find a way to get more stops.

DeShields will be joined in Chicago by two lottery picks. Not only do the Sky hold the No. 4 overall pick in this draft, they’ll welcome 2017 No. 2 overall pick Alaina Coates to the court for the first time in 2018. Coates missed last season after undergoing ankle surgery, but has been medically cleared and playing overseas this offseason.

Our own Arielle Chambers spoke with DeShields at the draft:

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