The 2025 WNBA season is days away, and a decorated HBCU athlete is showing why she should be on an opening roster.
Former Norfolk State guard Diamond Johnson is making an impression at Minnesota Lynx training camp. She is showcasing the tremendous work ethic and toughness that made her so successful in college.
Several videos on social media have captured Johnson staying late after practice to get more work in and being a sponge, bending the ear of four-time WNBA championship coach Cheryl Reeve.
“I feel good, just picking up things as quickly as possible,” said Johnson about her experience at Minnesota Lynx training camp. “They’re starting to use their terminology… so just being very in tune with that. Remembering the plays and trying not to have the coaches repeat the same thing once. Just being a sponge and taking it in and paying attention. Obviously, the pace is just a step up, everything is quick, quick, quick, so just getting adjusted to that. Everything else has been smooth.”
Johnson signed a training camp contract with the Minnesota Lynx after she did not hear her name called in the 2025 WNBA Draft.
This came after a season in which she led the Norfolk State Spartans’ women’s basketball team to their third straight MEAC championship and was named MEAC Player of the Year.
She performed strongly in the Spartans’ NCAA tournament game against Maryland, scoring 18 points, including four three-pointers, while grabbing six rebounds and three steals.
Diamond Johnson on her message to athletes deciding on going to a HBCU school and then getting to the W
“Just be you, if you’re super talented enough, I think when I was playing for Northfolk State we did a really good job of setting our schedule… and then just dominate in your… pic.twitter.com/3Glcty2055
— Andrew Dukowitz (@adukeMN) May 4, 2025
While speaking with the media, the former MEAC Player of the Year shared a message to future HBCU women’s basketball players with WNBA aspirations.
“Just be you, if you’re super talented enough, I think they’ll find you,” said Johnson. “When I was playing for Norfolk State, we did a pretty good job of setting our schedule. Two SEC teams, we ended up winning… and we played those good mid-major schools like Green Bay and Wyoming.
I think it’s important for strength of schedule, that’s something they’re going to look at, and then just dominating your league. Win every game by 30 points and make it seem like it’s not super close to where people can question the competition. Whatever path fits you, you can be at a P4, an HBCU, or a small school. Just do what makes you happy, and when you get there, you have to ball out and they’ll find you.”
The Minnesota Lynx enter the 2025 WNBA season looking to build on their 2024 season, which saw them appear in their first WNBA Finals since 2017.
They will make their preseason debut on Tuesday, May 6, when they travel to face the Chicago Sky.
