After being removed from the starting lineup, will Chicago move on from veteran guard Skylar Diggins? Where could she land?
Three months after Chicago Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca traded away Angel Reese, a signal the team was looking for yet another "fresh start," the franchise could find itself moving on from a major piece of the puzzle that was supposed to usher in a new era.
One day after being removed from the starting lineup, veteran guard Skylar Diggins posted on her Instagram story, "Now I’m coming off the bench?????? Cool."
Per the Chicago Sun-Times, the third overall draft pick in 2013 told reporters Monday, "I’ve been putting my body on the line. I’m here for this team. I’ve done everything that’s been asked of me. I’ve been great professionally. That’s the decision that’s made, and I’ve got to live with that.
"Even if I don't like decisions, I have to be a pro and go with whatever (coach Tyler Marsh) thinks."
It doesn't mean she's happy.
Marsh said he expects the seven-time WNBA All-Star to be a provider off the bench as the team shifts to moving the offense through Kamilla Cardoso.
Veteran Courtney Vandersloot made her season debut on June 26, after recovering from an ACL injury, and is averaging 8.2 points and 6.0 assists per game.
Cardoso was averaging 13.0 points per game through the team's first 17 games; she's now averaging 23.3 in the last three, coinciding with Vandersloot's return.
Diggins, who is averaging 14.2 points and 4.9 assists per game this season, still has plenty to offer a lineup. With the WNBA Trade deadline less than a month away, on Aug. 2nd, the question is, which one?
Skylar Diggins opened up about the Sky's lack of resources for player success.
Diggins was benched for Chicago's game on Tuesday vs. the Mercury. pic.twitter.com/SRb8LJsL7D
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 7, 2026
JEWELL'S PLAYBOOK
As much respect as Diggins deserves, and even if she can certainly start for most teams in the league right now, perhaps the 35-year-old should consider taking a page out of Jewell Loyd's playbook.
Loyd joined the Aces before the 2025 campaign, replacing Kelsey Plum, who went to the Los Angeles Sparks as part of a three-team deal. But things were falling apart for the Aces, whose 14-14 start to the season culminated with a 31-point home loss to the Minnesota Lynx.
Before the record-breaking home loss, though, Loyd had a meeting with coach Becky Hammon to discuss the idea of coming off the bench to provide a spark. Hammon originally squashed the idea, but pulled it out of her back pocket after the humiliating loss to Minnesota and it proved to be a successful move and integral part of the Aces finishing the season on a 16-game win streak.
Whether it's Chicago or another team that could use her experience and a veteran presence, perhaps Diggins can be just as effective in a reserve role. She's averaging 29.1 minutes per game this season, her lowest since her rookie campaign. From the point Loyd started coming off the bench, she averaged 28.8 minutes per game for the Aces.
Diggins suggested it might be "time to take a step back" and reassess making "sacrifices without having the proper resources to play at an elite level."
NOT, MY KIND OF TOWN
Chicago might have been Frank Sinatra's "Kind of Town." For Diggins, as it turns out, it may not be.
One of the selling points for the 12-year veteran was an elaborate practice facility that was to mirror the ones being built around WNBA cities
The Sky announced plans for their $60 million facility in 2024, and it was supposed to be completed last December. Two months into the season and roughly two weeks away from Chicago hosting All-Star Weekend, the Sky's permanent practice facility still has no firm opening date after months of delays.
And while that means it could disrupt the team's "community impact events" during the All-Star festivities, the delays are impacting the team. Practices have been scattered around Chicago.
"I was thinking we were going to be in a practice facility, and other things that were told to me, and that's not been the case," Diggins said. "There's been things outside of people's control that I understand, too, a lot of moving parts.
"Lots of places I've been were in that process as well, so I get it. But it's hard to perform at a certain level without those."
SO, WHERE TO NEXT?
PORTLAND FIRE: The expansion Portland Fire could use another experienced guard to take the weight off a young backcourt. Of the six guards listed on the roster, five have one year of experience or less, including three rookies. The Fire are in 10th place and are within striking distance of the eighth and final playoff spot, currently held by the Washington Mystics. And while the franchise is certainly building for the future, a win-now mindset wouldn't hurt, considering the Fire own two wins over Commissioners' Cup champion New York, and two additional wins over the Indiana Fever and Dallas Wings.
TORONTO TEMPO: As of Tuesday, the expansion squad is in ninth place, one game back of the final playoff spot, currently held by the Washington Mystics. Despite losing veteran guard Brittney Sykes earlier this season, the Tempo have remained competitive and have the potential of making a run. Rookie Kiki Rice will eventually be back, but the last thing the team wants to do is rush a Grade 3 ankle sprain. Nevertheless, Rice is a team player who would conceivably understand legendary coach Sandy Brondello's decision if Diggins were brought in to bolster the veterans already on this team. Then again, Diggins could get acclimated with Toronto's players and take Loyd's lead when Rice returns. The question is whether or not she would welcome a reunion with Brondello, whom she played under for three seasons in Phoenix. Diggins was part of Brondello's Mercury team that was beaten by Chicago in the 2021 WNBA Finals.
WASHINGTON MYSTICS: The Mystics have a strong young corps that includes second-year guard Sonia Citron out of Notre Dame, where Diggins also attended. Yes, Citron was in middle school when Diggins played at Notre Dame, but the common ground could help spark the chemistry and give the veteran someone to mentor. The Mystics also like what they're seeing from rookie Georgia Amoore, who has started all 20 games for the Mystics. Her numbers aren't glaring at 6.2 points and 3.6 assists, but that's because the team can turn to Kiki Iriafen and Shakira Austin if Citron is off. That said, if there is an area the Mystics could improve, it's getting points off assists, as they rank 12th in the 15-team table with 19.2 assists per game. They could also use a boost from Diggins' ability to score, as the team's scoring offense ranks 13th in the league with 81.1 ppg.
