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As Tennessee’s season came to an end in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, more questions arose if Mercedes Russell and Diamond DeShields would return for their senior seasons. Both players enter the year as red-shirt juniors after Russell sat a year to nurse an injury and DeShields after transferring from North Carolina.
By rule, a player must be at least 22 years old by the date of the WNBA draft — a requirement they both make. Not long ago, Russell announced she would be returning to finish her eligibility as a Lady Vols’ player.
Today, DeShields announced she too will return to Tennessee for her last season of eligibility.
Via DeShield’s Instagram post she stated, “I’m coming back to build and nurture this family that I love so dearly. My love for UT is unending and this is what I see as my ‘divine appointment.’”