Mercury acquire Diamond DeShields from Sky in three-team trade

The Phoenix Mercury are coming off of a 2021 season in which they made the WNBA Finals for the fifth time in franchise history. They ultimately fell short to the Chicago Sky in four games, but on Thursday, they acquired a one-time All-Star and former member of Chicago's starting backcourt.

The Mercury announced Thursday morning that they acquired Diamond DeShields in a sign-and-trade deal with the Sky. The move was part of a three-team deal between Phoenix, Chicago and the Indiana Fever.

In the other pieces of the trade, the Mercury sent their 2023 first-round pick to the Sky, plus guard Bria Hartley and 2022 and 2023 second-round picks to the Fever. Indiana sent the contract of Julie Allemand to Chicago for the team's 2022 and 2023 first-round picks as well.

"Diamond DeShields is as dynamic an athlete as we have in our league and at just 26 years old has already been a champion, an All-Star and an All-WNBA performer. She was one of our top targets this offseason because of her ability to score and defend from the wing position and how dangerous she is in the open floor. We are thrilled to add Diamond to our All-Star core," Phoenix general manager Jim Pitman said. "We also want to thank Bria Hartley for her contributions while in a Mercury uniform and everything she did to return to the court last season following injury in the Bubble. We loved having Bria and her son Bryson in Phoenix and wish them the best in Indiana."

DeShields — the daughter of former Major League Baseball player Delino DeShields and sister of current MLB outfielder Delino DeShields Jr. — was selected third overall by the Sky in the 2018 WNBA Draft. She has averaged 13.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 27.2 minutes per contest over 113 career regular-season games.

The 26-year-old earned All-Rookie honors in 2018 and was named an All-Star in 2019, while securing a Second-Team All-WNBA nod as well.