Howard: Rachel, you spent some time with the Chicago Sky for a story on their two shiny new draft picks, Gabby Williams and Diamond DeShields. Curious: who is more impressive so far, and if you had to pick, which do you think will have the better career when it’s all done?
Rachel Galligan: That’s a really tough question to answer! Both players impact the game in so many ways. DeShields is currently averaging 12.6 ppg and just over five rebounds per game. Gabby is right at 8.4 ppg and five rebounds as well. In my opinion, you get the sense of Gabby starting to truly come into her own offensively. She had 26 last week in a tough loss to Phoenix. She is shooting the ball well right now inside and outside the arc. We’ve seen DeShields struggle a little bit offensively at times this season, especially behind the arc where she’s only shooting 17 percent right now.
Both have been equally impressive to me, Diamonds numbers have been better to this point as a whole offensively, so right now she has the slight edge on Gabby.
In the long term, Gabby Williams is a hybrid player unique to the league that I don’t think has begun to scratch the surface as to how she can impact the game on both sides of the ball. She is efficient, she can defend and she’s proven to be able to put up big numbers. I feel she will have a more impressive career long term.
Howard: The crazy part is that Chicago doesn’t have to choose. Oh, the trade that keeps on giving.