Diamond Johnson, some of the achieved guards in HBCU girls’s basketball, has signed a coaching camp contract with the Minnesota Lynx, aiming to safe a spot on their 2025 WNBA roster. Regardless of her standout collegiate profession, Johnson went undrafted within the 2025 WNBA Draft, a call that sparked appreciable dialogue amongst followers and analysts.
Transferring to Norfolk State for her ultimate two school seasons, Johnson delivered distinctive performances, averaging 18.7 factors, 5.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and three.3 steals per recreation. She set a MEAC Event single-game scoring report with a 30-point, 11-rebound outing within the semifinals and was named the 2024 Ladies’s Basketball Co-Participant of the 12 months on the Spartan Selection Awards.
Johnson’s omission from the draft raised questions on potential biases, with some speculating that her top and resolution to play at an HBCU could have influenced groups’ selections. Social media reactions highlighted the shock and disappointment felt by many, emphasizing her spectacular statistics and management qualities.
Now, with the chance to compete within the Lynx’s coaching camp, Diamond Johnson goals to reveal her capabilities and earn a spot within the WNBA. Her journey underscores the challenges confronted by gifted gamers from underrepresented applications like Norfolk State and different HBCUs and the significance of offering equitable alternatives in skilled sports activities.
The Minnesota Lynx are set to open coaching camp at The Courts at Mayo Clinic Sq. on Sunday, April 27.
Their two-game preseason slate kicks off with a matchup in opposition to the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Enviornment on Tuesday, Might 6 at 7:00 p.m. EST.. The preseason concludes with a house recreation at Goal Heart on Saturday, Might 10 at 8:00 p.m. EST.
Minnesota will tip off the common season on the highway, dealing with the Dallas Wings on Friday, Might 16 at 7:30 p.m. EST.
