Ahead of the Chicago Sky’s final game of the regular season – on the road at the Washington Mystics – Diamond DeShields made an appearance at Sneaker Con 2019 in the nation’s capital.
Before arriving at Sneaker Con, she had a banner game against the Connecticut Sun where she dropped a career-high 30 points in the Sky’s win over Connecticut.
DeShields mentioned she was sporting the Air Zoom Freaks – Giannis Antetokounmpo’s signature Nike shoe and that she has been wearing those, low tops, Paul George’s and Nike Air Fear of Gods this year.
As soon as I put them on, man, I just felt like … I felt like I had to play good. I felt like I looked so good in them, and I’m like, dude, like you’ve got to get buckets in these.
–Diamond DeShields, Chicago Sky
🏀 @diamonddoesit1 reveals her unique bond with the Nike Air Fear of God 1s. pic.twitter.com/uEXb0GLwXD
— The Undefeated (@TheUndefeated) September 7, 2019
Touched down in DC, straight to @SneakerCon! @diamonddoesit1 https://t.co/nUEvB9wdWb
— Chicago Sky (@wnbachicagosky) September 7, 2019
Her father, as many know, is Delino DeShields who played baseball.
The shoe’s designer is Jerry Lorenzo. DeShields told The Undefeated that the shoe brought her closer to Lorenzo and that the inspiration for it came from her father playing baseball in high top cleats.
As far as how many pairs of the Fear of Gods she has … she didn’t give an exact number, but mentioned that it is plenty.
I’ve got a lot of orange boxes in my closet.
–Diamond DeShields, Chicago Sky
My guy @aardodson chopping it up w/baller @diamonddoesit1 @SneakerCon DC @TheUndefeated pic.twitter.com/gWnooiPgf8
— Kevin Merida (@meridak) September 7, 2019
She said the Nike Air Fear of God 1s are her favorite because she feels they are a legitimate basketball shoe and recalled being in a promotional photoshoot for the Fear of Gods. When Lorenzo approached her about the opportunity, she absolutely wanted to be part of it.
🏀 @diamonddoesit1 joins us at @SneakerCon fresh off of scoring a career-high 30 points last night in an overtime win against the Connecticut Sun. (📹@wnbachicagosky) pic.twitter.com/XRsoRKY57C
— The Undefeated (@TheUndefeated) September 7, 2019
DeShields also recalled that her love for sneakers began when she was young when she noticed her father coming home after the baseball season with bags of kicks.
I used to put them on, they were way too big, but I used to just put them on and walk around the house in them.
DeShields was asked about how sneakers have added another dimension to the WNBA and she called it the “truest form of self-expression” on the court.
It just goes to show that this league is full of very expressive personalities and just, once again, just being a part of that, it’s truly a movement and it’s…it’s surreal. It’s super cool.
–Diamond DeShields, Chicago Sky
Even as much of a sneaker aficionado as she is, she referred to the Las Vegas Aces’ Tamera Young as the biggest sneakerhead in the WNBA (and she certainly has a strong case). DeShields then gave her take on if women get enough credit for their place in sneaker culture.
When do we ever get enough credit, but all we can do is keep being strong, independent and expressive.
–Diamond DeShields, Chicago Sky
