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Skylar Diggins-Smith shows off skills ahead of WNBA free agency

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Skylar Diggins-Smith is looking to show her worth ahead of free agency. (Photo by Steven Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images)

Skylar Diggins-Smith is putting in the work – even if she can’t access the Phoenix Mercury facilities.

Diggins Smith, who is on maternity leave and embroiled in a feud with the franchise, will be a free agent next year. And on Saturday, Bridget Pettis, a former Mercury guard, posted a video of Diggins-Smith to Instagram.

In the video, the guard is seen shooting jumpers, dribbling between her legs and driving into the lane for layups.

Diggins-Smith, a six-time WNBA All-Star, missed the end of the 2022 regular season and the team’s first-round playoff loss to the Las Vegas Aces because of personal reasons.

She then went on maternity leave at the start of this season and, as she revealed in a series of tweets in early August, has not been allowed to use the teams’ practice facilities or access other team resources: massage therapists, chiropractors, chefs, strength and conditioning coaches and nutritionists.

“I’m fine with being distanced,” she wrote on X. “Now I can’t possibly be the villain anymore.”

The Mercury (9-30) have struggled without Diggins-Smith and have the worst record in the league. In their final home game of the season, the Mercury fell to the Las Vegas Aces, 94-73, but Sug Sutton provided a bright spot with a triple-double – the first in league history by a player drafted after the first round.

The team wraps up its regular season Sunday on the road against the Aces.