DeShields leaving UT, going professional

[Trappa]

This is interesting news in a summer of interesting news.



Dan Fleser on Twitter

ETA:

 

[HuskyFan1125]

Boom!!

I was all but told this early but wanted to verify and all I could find was rumor.

 

[Kaizen]

I guess more shock in LVNation than in BYard.

 

[oldude]

The buzz has been out there all day. Here's the confirmation. DD has now bailed out on 2 teams in 4 years, UNC & TN. The Lady Vols are in for one tough season.

 

[JS]

Haven't read anything but the quote by Fleser. If that's all there is, Ms. Warlick sounds pretty defensive.

Minimal statement of the departure. No well wishing, or we'll miss her, or anything about her contribution.

At greater length, and I paraphrase: "We aren't going to hell; we'll be fine I tell ya."

 

[Vowelguy]

When I saw it suggested this morning I thought it was just wild speculation, and was tempted to chastise the post for rumor mongering!

When did they change the name of the city from Knoxville to Knots Landing?

 

[vtcwbuff]

I am really disappointed that Deshields has decided to leave. I count her as one of the reasons (along with Warlick) that UTenn has struggled the last couple of years. Too bad. I was looking forward to another failed season at UTenn.

 

[UConnCat]

It seems Deshields was sincere in wanting to return to Tennessee for her 5th year. Then Te'a Cooper left and everything changed.

I too was struck by Holly's statement. At some point I'm sure she'll wish Diamond well; today is not that day.

This changes expectations for next season but likely a blessing in the long run.

 

[ed4ourgirls]

As many have suggested, this could well be addition by subtraction for the Lady Vols.

 

[Vowelguy]

Haven't read anything but the quote by Fleser. If that's all there is, Ms. Warlick sounds pretty defensive.
Minimal statement of the departure. No well wishing, or we'll miss her, or anything about her contribution.

An alternative interpretation to defensive is "good riddance."

With that kind of statement you can tell there's no love lost.
I am guessing things were fine in the end of the season interview, but then after Coopers departure, DD changed her mind catching HW off guard.

 

[Charliebball]

Good get!!! I got nothin from any of my go to sources on this one..........a bit surprised by the timing.........she has her degree so can't really blame her for wanting to go play with the big girls but certainly left a promising situation.......

 

[Bestiarius]

Haven't read anything but the quote by Fleser. If that's all there is, Ms. Warlick sounds pretty defensive.

Minimal statement of the departure. No well wishing, or we'll miss her, or anything about her contribution.

At greater length, and I paraphrase: "We aren't going to hell; we'll be fine I tell ya."

I guess she didn't understand what she was saying when she said, "Where are we going, and. why am I in this handbasket?"

 

[Charliebball]

Only story I see online at the moment:

Diamond DeShields leaving Lady Vols

 

[cferraro04]

I said this all along from the moment she transferred to Tennessee. I knew she would not finish her last year and would go pro instead. No surprise for me...here... The surprise was...up to this point she had said she was coming back...now, that declaration threw me for a loop. And, BAM! Here we are, things are as expected.

Can't wait to see Margo's next video... lol

 

[Bernie]

Tennessee fans I know this feels like a big loss, but count your blessing. You have four new freshman and it's better to weave out the negativity before it becomes an influence on them. If Warlick is really serious about getting the under control then this a start. If we're being honest Jamie Nared should be the go to player for you guys anyway.

 

[hoopsdiva]

Isn't this odd, to leave after the WNBA draft has taken place, not to mention in mid-season? Is she eligible to be signed by a WNBA team this season as a free agent, or does she have to wait for next year's draft? Does she play in Europe or Asia in the meantime? Has there ever been a comparable situation for a potential WNBA player?

 

[cferraro04]

Isn't this odd, to leave after the WNBA draft has taken place, not to mention in mid-season? Is she eligible to be signed by a WNBA team this season as a free agent, or does she have to wait for next year's draft? Does she play in Europe or Asia in the meantime? Has there ever been a comparable situation for a potential WNBA player?

I smell a 10 day contract coming up...

 

[Vowelguy]

Whoa.
This was tweeted minutes ago:


Holly Warlick‏Verified account @HollyWarlick

 

[SVCBeercats]

Haven't read anything but the quote by Fleser. If that's all there is, Ms. Warlick sounds pretty defensive.
Minimal statement of the departure. No well wishing, or we'll miss her, or anything about her contribution.
At greater length, and I paraphrase: "We aren't going to hell; we'll be fine I tell ya."

For Holly and Tenn this is a VERY GOOD thing! Holly can regain her team without a solo ballhog. She can focus on running their offense through Mercedes. She can work on resetting the culture with the outstanding freshmen class. This may be her last chance but to me, she is clear to soar or crash and burn. But now she can soar without Deshields.

 

[UConnCat]

Tennessee fans I know this feels like a big loss, but count your blessing. You have four new freshman and it's better to weave out the negativity before it becomes an influence on them. If Warlick is really serious about getting the under control then this a start. If we're being honest Jamie Nared should be the go to player for you guys anyway.

Exactly. Short-term pain will be long-term gain. That's true for both Cooper and DeShields. If Holly is serious about changing the culture it's likely to happen sooner now that both players are gone.

 

[Vowelguy]

Isn't this odd, to leave after the WNBA draft has taken place, not to mention in mid-season?

And thus why it mustve been the Cooper thing.

 

[Bernie]

And thus why it mustve been the Cooper thing.

If it was because of the Cooper thing, then I'm side eyeing Diamond because her whole helping the freshman mantra was bs. It look like she did it all to make herself look better, like I said Deshields is a selfish team player.

 

[Trappa]

I smell a 10 day contract coming up...

She can't. She has to go through the draft process first.

 

[dtbtbtb]

Wow...it's a surprise especially after the declaration in a long memo by DD that she is coming back and why....oh well, it's an end to an underachieving college career of an out-worldly talent. She truly needed a strong coach to mold her but chose the easy way out in both her college choices. Shame...

 

[Boxerpups4me]

When I saw it suggested this morning I thought it was just wild speculation, and was tempted to chastise the post for rumor mongering!

When did they change the name of the city from Knoxville to Knots Landing?

I hestitated about whether to post anything about it, but the source i had is usually spot on about things going on within the program. It's a blow to the lady vols for sure, and i'm not entirely certain it's all over. Could be more bad news on the horizon for lady vol fans. It definitely has turned into one big soap opera..