Sky guard Skylar Diggins says she was caught off guard by news she’ll come off the bench in Phoenix tonight. The roster change ends her decade-long run as a WNBA starter just 19 games into her two-year deal with Chicago. On Instagram, she wrote, “Now I’m coming off the bench?????? Cool,” then followed with a video saying the “crazy part is that she’s been so good and quiet” all season.
Coach Tyler Marsh has framed the move as his call and declined to detail conversations with Diggins. But outside analysts question the timing for a 6-14 Sky team still searching for an identity.
Inside the Chicago Sky's Latest Backcourt Shake-Up
This is the second high-profile backcourt shake-up in Chicago this year. The team previously waived Hailey Van Lith over “style of play” concerns. Diggins's benching raises fresh questions about the Sky’s long-term plan around a roster with playoff expectations that isn’t winning.
For Diggins, the move is a gut punch. It comes just months after signing a two-year, $1.8 million deal. In that time, Diggins has served as the veteran leader of the retooled Sky. Now, 19 games into the season she's coming off the bench. Frustrations connected to a lack of team resources compared to other franchises are also to blame.
“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,” she said. “It’s hard to perform at a certain level without those [resources].”
“Maybe it’s time to take a step back and see what’s going on to see if I need to continue to make those sacrifices without having the proper resources to play at an elite level,” she continued.
Chicago takes on Phoenix tonight at 10 PM ET, live on League Pass.
