With six former Lady Vols rostered, WNBA action got underway.
There are six former Tennessee Lady Volunteers on the roster for Tuesday night’s WNBA season opener. With two on each of the three teams, those six players are distributed.
Along with LVFL Rae Burrell for Los Angeles, fourth overall pick Rickea Jackson is scheduled to make her WNBA debut on Wednesday night. The season opener between the Sparks and the Atlanta Dream will only be available to watch on WNBA League Pass. At Tennessee, Jackson was a highly effective player, and in his third year, Burrell hopes to improve.
WNBA stalwarts Isabelle Harrison and Diamond DeShields are both on the Chicago Sky this season. After missing the entire 2023 season due to injuries, both players are hoping to make a significant return with the Sky.
Finally, this season, Mercedes Russell and Jordan Horston will try to turn things around for Seattle. Russell made a significant comeback to the court in 2023 after an injury limited her 2022 season to only five games, while Horston established herself as a reliable player for the Storm during her debut campaign. This season, the Storm are predicted to be among the best teams in the league.
In April of this year, LVFL Candace Parker announced her retirement. She then secured a position as President of Adidas women’s basketball. Rennia Davis, a former Top 10 pick, trained with the Connecticut Sun but will be available as a free agent when the season kicks off on Tuesday.
Rae Burrell
- Team: Los Angeles Sparks
- Year: 3
- 2023 Stats: 29 GP, 3 GS, 11.1 MPG, 38.7 FG%, 1.2 RPG, 0.6 APG, 3.6 PPG
- Final Tennessee Stats: 22 GP, 36.4 FG%, 3.9 RPG, 1.6 APG, 12.3 PPG
- Opening Game: Wednesday at 10:00 p.m. ET – Atlanta Dream at LA Sparks – WNBA League Pass
Rickea Jackson
- Team: Los Angeles Sparks
- Year: Rookie
- 2023 Stats: N/A (Fourth overall pick)
- Final Tennessee Stats: 25 GP, 24 GS, 31.5 MPG, 48.5 FG%, 8.2 RPG, 2.3 APG, 20.2 PPG
- Opening Game: Wednesday at 10:00 p.m. ET – Atlanta Dream at LA Sparks – WNBA League Pass
Diamond DeShields
- Team: Chicago Sky
- Year: 6
- 2023 Stats: DNP (Knee Injury)
- Final Tennessee Stats: 29 GP, 28 GS, 33.5 MPG, 42.3 FG%, 6.4 RPG, 3.8 APG, 17.4 PPG
- Opening Game: Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. ET – Chicago Sky at Dallas Wings – WNBA League Pass
Isabelle Harrison
- Team: Chicago Sky
- Year: 7
- 2022 Stats: 35 GP, 18 GS, 18.4 MPG, 46.6 FG%, 4.3 RPG, 1.3 APG, 8.7 PPG
- Final Tennessee Stats: 21 GP, 47.1 FG%, 8.6 RPG, 0.7 APG, 12.2 PPG
- Opening Game: Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. ET – Chicago Sky at Dallas Wings – WNBA League Pass
Mercedes Russell
- Team: Seattle Storm
- Year: 7
- 2023 Stats: 37 GP, 13 GS, 19.1 MPG, 51.6 FG%, 4.0 RPG, 1.3 APG, 5.0 PPG
- Final Tennessee Stats: 33 GP, 33 GS, 32.7 MPG, 58.3 FG%, 9.2 RPG, 0.8 APG, 15.3 PPG
- Opening Game: Tuesday at 10:00 p.m. ET – Minnesota Lynx at Seattle Storm – ESPN3
Jordan Horston
- Team: Seattle Storm
- Year: 2
- 2023 Stats: 36 GP, 17 GS, 22.4 MPG, 36.7 FG%, 5.1 RPG, 1.6 APG, 6.9 PPG
- Final Tennessee Stats: 35 GP, 33 GS, 26.8 MPG, 43.8 FG%, 7.1 RPG, 3.3 APG, 15.6 PPG
- Opening Game: Tuesday at 10:00 p.m. ET – Minnesota Lynx at Seattle Storm – ESPN3