Andraya Carter (at UT from 2012-16) will join ABC’s studio crew courtside at Michelob Ultra Arena. The Flowery Branch, Ga., native is a regular on ABC/ESPN broadcasts as both an analyst and reporter. She recently was honored by the National Sports Media Association (NSMA) as that organization’s 2022 Best Young Reporter.
Around the league, Lady Vols have carved out positions with five different franchises. Rae Burrell is with Los Angeles, Diamond DeShields is in Dallas, Isabelle Harrison is at Chicago, Jordan Horston and Mercedes Russell are in Seattle and Candace Parker is with Las Vegas. Parker, Russell and Horston have earned starts with their teams, Burrell contributes off the bench for her club, and DeShields and Harrison are currently sidelined due to injuries.
Rae Burrell
6-1 / G-F / Los Angeles Sparks / 2nd Season
Burrell (2018-22) was released prior to the start of the 2023 regular season by Los Angeles but stayed ready and was later re-signed. She has seen action in 10 games thus far, averaging 11.5 minutes per contest and producing 4.1 ppg. and 1.6 rpg. while shooting 32.5 percent from the field and 76.9 percent from the charity stripe for the Sparks. They stand fourth in the Western Conference and ninth overall in the league with a 7-13 record.
Next Game: July 20 at Minnesota (8 p.m. ET — Amazon Prime Video, Bally Sports North)
Diamond DeShields
6-1 / G / Dallas Wings / 6th Season
After moving over from Phoenix in the offseason, DeShields (2014-17) played in one preseason game for the Wings before an apparent knee injury short-circuited her 2023 campaign. She scored five points and tallied two rebounds, two assists and two steals in that exhibition contest and hasn’t played since. Dallas stands at 11-9, ranking second in the Western Conference and No. 6 overall.
Next Game: July 19 at New York (1 p.m. ET – YES, Bally Sports Southwest Extra)
Isabelle Harrison
6-3 / F / Chicago Sky / 7th Season
Joining the Sky from Dallas in the offseason, Harrison (2011-15) played in two preseason games and averaged 13.0 ppg. and 3.0 rpg. before suffering an injury. Per M.A. Voepel of ESPN, Harrison had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in her knee. There is no timetable given for the LVFL’s return to action. Fellow UT alum Tonya Edwards (1986-90) continues to serve as an assistant coach for the team, logging her third season in the Windy City.
Next Game: July 20 at Phoenix (10 p.m. ET – AZ Family Sports Network 44, Marquee Sports Network / CW 26, Mercury Live (Livestream), NBA TV)
6-2 / G / Seattle Storm / 1st Season
Horston (2019-23) has played in 17 of 20 games and is the fifth-leading scorer for Seattle, starting five contests this season after the Storm made the Lady Vol standout the No. 9 overall pick in the 2023 draft. She is averaging 21.8 minutes, 7.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 35.6 percent from the field and 76.0 percent from the free-throw line. In her latest outing, with her Lady Vol teammates and coaching staff on hand to watch in Atlanta, Horston fired in a season-high 23 points and carded her third double-double of the year by grabbing 10 rebounds. She added three steals and two assists with no turnovers in 35 minutes vs. the Dream. Seattle is 4-16 and stands sixth in the West and 12th among all league teams.
Next Game: July 20 vs. Las Vegas (10 p.m. ET – Amazon Prime Video, FOX 13+ / Amazon Prime Video – Seattle, Silver State Sports & Entertainment Network)
Candace Parker
6-4 / F-C / Las Vegas Aces / 16th Season
Parker (2004-08) has started 18 of 18 games played during her first season in Las Vegas, averaging 9.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals in 23.6 minutes per contest. She is shooting 46.5 percent from the field and 89.3 percent from the free-throw line for an Aces squad that stands 19-2 and has the best record in the league. Parker has scored in double figures in three of her past five games, including 10 vs. Dallas on July 7, and 15 vs. New York and Connecticut on June 29 and July 1, respectively. Fellow LVFL Nikki (Caldwell) Fargas (1990-94) is team president for Las Vegas.
Next Game: July 20 at Seattle (10 p.m. ET – Amazon Prime Video, FOX 13+ / Amazon Prime Video – Seattle, Silver State Sports & Entertainment Network)
Mercedes Russell
6-6 / C / Seattle Storm / 6th Season
Russell (2013-18) has been in the starting five for Seattle on 11 of 17 occasions this season. She is averaging 16.5 minutes, 3.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 43.1 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from the charity stripe during her fifth season with the Storm. Her most recent standout effort came on June 24, as she tallied seven points and four rebounds in 24 minutes vs. Phoenix. Seattle is 4-16 and stands sixth in the West and 12th among all league teams.
Next Game: July 20 vs. Las Vegas (10 p.m. ET – Amazon Prime Video, FOX 13+ / Amazon Prime Video – Seattle, Silver State Sports & Entertainment Network)