University of Tennessee Athletics
Lady Vols In The WNBA Update: June 25
June 25, 2024 | Women's Basketball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The 2024 WNBA season moves into the final days of June, with action resuming around the league on Tuesday night after a Monday off to start the week.
A trio of different franchises feature former Lady Vols on their rosters. Guard Jordan Horston and center Mercedes Russell play for the Seattle Storm. Their squad currently holds down second place in the Western Conference and fourth place overall in the league with a 10-6 record.
Elsewhere, guard Diamond DeShields and forward Isabelle Harrison are members of the Chicago Sky, while guard/forward Rae Burrell and rookie forward Rickea Jackson are part of the Los Angeles Sparks.
Player Updates:
Rae Burrell
6'2 | G-F | Los Angeles Sparks | 3rd Season
Rae Burrell (2018-22) has appeared in 14 games for the Sparks this season, clocking in 22 minutes in back-to-back games at New York on June 20 and 22. She tallied a 2024 high of 11 points with four rebounds, four assists and a steal against the Liberty on June 20 and followed with nine points, two assists, two steals and a board two nights later. She is averaging 4.3 points, 1.2 rebounds and 10.9 minutes per game thus far.
Next Game: June 28 at Phoenix Mercury (10 p.m. ET on ION & WNBA League Pass)
Diamond DeShields
6'1 | G | Chicago Sky | 7th Season
Since returning to the Sky this season, Diamond DeShields (2014-17) has appeared in 13 contests. DeShields is averaging 5.8 points per game along with 1.7 assists and 1.5 rebounds while playing 17.2 minutes per contest. Most recently, DeShields played against the Indiana Fever on June 23, recording eight points, two steals, an assist and a block over 17 minutes. Her career highs of 16 points and five rebounds came on May 18 at Dallas.
Next Game: June 27 vs. Las Vegas Aces (7 p.m. ET on Marquee Sports Network, Silver State Sports & Entertainment Network, Prime)
Isabelle Harrison
6'3 | F | Chicago Sky | 8th Season
Isabelle Harrison (2011-15) has seen action in 11 contests during her first active season with the Sky. After missing last season due to injury, she is averaging 5.8 points and 3.2 rebounds while playing 14.0 minutes per game. In her most recent action, Harrison contributed four points and four rebounds during a 12-minute stint vs. Indiana on June 23. She had career highs of 14 points and seven rebounds on June 6 at Washington.
Next Game: June 28 vs. Phoenix Mercury (10 p.m. ET on ION & WNBA League Pass)
Jordan Horston
6'2 | F | Seattle Storm | 2nd Season
In her second season in the league, Jordan Horston (2019-23) is averaging 7.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.4 assists over 22.0 minutes per contest for the Storm. After undergoing off-season shoulder surgery, she has bounced back tremendously. Horston is coming off a season-best 18-point performance on June 19 at Las Vegas, when she hit six of ten attempts from the field and added six rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal. Since June 13, the second-year pro has scored in double figures in her past four contests.
Next Game: June 27 vs. Indiana Fever (10 p.m. ET on FOX 13+, Amazon Prime Video-Seattle, MeTV Indianapolis, Prime)
Rickea Jackson
6'2 | F | Los Angeles Sparks | 1st Season
In her rookie season, Rickea Jackson (2022-24) has made a strong impression as a professional, appearing in all 17 of the Sparks' matchups. Jackson has earned 12 starts and is averaging 9.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 23.4 minutes per contest while shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 79.1 from the charity stripe. Her best effort this season came against Minnesota on June 14, when she notched a season-high 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field and carded her first WNBA double-double with 10 rebounds. It also was one of eight double-figure points performances in 2024 by the LVFL.
Next Game: June 28 at Phoenix Mercury (10 p.m. ET on ION & WNBA League Pass)
Mercedes Russell
6'6 | C | Seattle Storm | 7th Season
In her seventh season with Seattle, Mercedes Russell (2013-18) continues to be a force to be reckoned with in the paint. She has participated in 15 games, averaging 4.0 points and 3.1 rebounds while shooting 58.1 percent from the field over 15.8 minutes per contest. In her most recent contest against Connecticut, Russell posted four points and grabbed four rebounds over nine minutes on June 23. Her scoring highs include eight points at Washington and New York during May 19 and 20 contests, respectively, and her rebounding best of seven came on May 25 vs. Washington.
Next Game: June 27 vs. Indiana Fever (10 p.m. ET on FOX 13+, Amazon Prime Video-Seattle, MeTV Indianapolis, Prime)
A trio of different franchises feature former Lady Vols on their rosters. Guard Jordan Horston and center Mercedes Russell play for the Seattle Storm. Their squad currently holds down second place in the Western Conference and fourth place overall in the league with a 10-6 record.
Elsewhere, guard Diamond DeShields and forward Isabelle Harrison are members of the Chicago Sky, while guard/forward Rae Burrell and rookie forward Rickea Jackson are part of the Los Angeles Sparks.
Player Updates:
Rae Burrell
6'2 | G-F | Los Angeles Sparks | 3rd Season
Rae Burrell (2018-22) has appeared in 14 games for the Sparks this season, clocking in 22 minutes in back-to-back games at New York on June 20 and 22. She tallied a 2024 high of 11 points with four rebounds, four assists and a steal against the Liberty on June 20 and followed with nine points, two assists, two steals and a board two nights later. She is averaging 4.3 points, 1.2 rebounds and 10.9 minutes per game thus far.
Next Game: June 28 at Phoenix Mercury (10 p.m. ET on ION & WNBA League Pass)
Diamond DeShields
6'1 | G | Chicago Sky | 7th Season
Since returning to the Sky this season, Diamond DeShields (2014-17) has appeared in 13 contests. DeShields is averaging 5.8 points per game along with 1.7 assists and 1.5 rebounds while playing 17.2 minutes per contest. Most recently, DeShields played against the Indiana Fever on June 23, recording eight points, two steals, an assist and a block over 17 minutes. Her career highs of 16 points and five rebounds came on May 18 at Dallas.
Next Game: June 27 vs. Las Vegas Aces (7 p.m. ET on Marquee Sports Network, Silver State Sports & Entertainment Network, Prime)
Isabelle Harrison
6'3 | F | Chicago Sky | 8th Season
Isabelle Harrison (2011-15) has seen action in 11 contests during her first active season with the Sky. After missing last season due to injury, she is averaging 5.8 points and 3.2 rebounds while playing 14.0 minutes per game. In her most recent action, Harrison contributed four points and four rebounds during a 12-minute stint vs. Indiana on June 23. She had career highs of 14 points and seven rebounds on June 6 at Washington.
Next Game: June 28 vs. Phoenix Mercury (10 p.m. ET on ION & WNBA League Pass)
Jordan Horston
6'2 | F | Seattle Storm | 2nd Season
In her second season in the league, Jordan Horston (2019-23) is averaging 7.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.4 assists over 22.0 minutes per contest for the Storm. After undergoing off-season shoulder surgery, she has bounced back tremendously. Horston is coming off a season-best 18-point performance on June 19 at Las Vegas, when she hit six of ten attempts from the field and added six rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal. Since June 13, the second-year pro has scored in double figures in her past four contests.
Next Game: June 27 vs. Indiana Fever (10 p.m. ET on FOX 13+, Amazon Prime Video-Seattle, MeTV Indianapolis, Prime)
Rickea Jackson
6'2 | F | Los Angeles Sparks | 1st Season
In her rookie season, Rickea Jackson (2022-24) has made a strong impression as a professional, appearing in all 17 of the Sparks' matchups. Jackson has earned 12 starts and is averaging 9.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 23.4 minutes per contest while shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 79.1 from the charity stripe. Her best effort this season came against Minnesota on June 14, when she notched a season-high 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field and carded her first WNBA double-double with 10 rebounds. It also was one of eight double-figure points performances in 2024 by the LVFL.
Next Game: June 28 at Phoenix Mercury (10 p.m. ET on ION & WNBA League Pass)
Mercedes Russell
6'6 | C | Seattle Storm | 7th Season
In her seventh season with Seattle, Mercedes Russell (2013-18) continues to be a force to be reckoned with in the paint. She has participated in 15 games, averaging 4.0 points and 3.1 rebounds while shooting 58.1 percent from the field over 15.8 minutes per contest. In her most recent contest against Connecticut, Russell posted four points and grabbed four rebounds over nine minutes on June 23. Her scoring highs include eight points at Washington and New York during May 19 and 20 contests, respectively, and her rebounding best of seven came on May 25 vs. Washington.
Next Game: June 27 vs. Indiana Fever (10 p.m. ET on FOX 13+, Amazon Prime Video-Seattle, MeTV Indianapolis, Prime)
Players Mentioned
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