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Jul 19, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Team Collier guard Skylar Diggins (4) reacts in the first half against Team Clark in the 2025 WNBA All Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Imago
Jul 19, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Team Collier guard Skylar Diggins (4) reacts in the first half against Team Clark in the 2025 WNBA All Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
For Skylar Diggins-Smith, last year’s All-Star Game wasn’t just another appearance. It was, in her own words, a “full circle moment.” The Indiana native had long cemented her legacy in the state, leading South Bend Washington to a state title, winning Miss Basketball in 2009, and starring at Notre Dame. In front of her children, cheering her on, Diggins-Smith put on a show, breaking the All-Star record for most assists and reminding everyone exactly who she is. But now, the same player who once had the Indiana fans behind her will suit up for a team that has arguably been the Fever’s biggest rival over the past two years.
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SKYlar 🤝 SKYtown, we’ve officially signed Skylar Diggins,” the Chicago Sky announced they managed to sign Skylar Diggins on their Instagram.
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Of course, it goes without saying that the Fever–Sky rivalry was never really a thing, with the head-to-head record largely tilted in favor of the Indiana Fever. Most of the noise came from the media, which loved pitting Angel Reese against Caitlin Clark. With the Bayou Barbie now gone, it’s unlikely the Sky will be viewed as the Fever’s true rival anymore.
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That said, it’s fair to say the Chicago Sky may have hit the jackpot with this deal, given Diggins’ stellar reputation. Diggins is a 7× WNBA All-Star guard who has built one of the most accomplished careers in women’s basketball, spanning from her college dominance at Notre Dame to her professional stardom.
Every time she is on the hardwood, she makes a point. She won the WNBA Most Improved Player Award in 2014 after the Tulsa Shock drafted her in the previous year. In 2017, she earned the All-WNBA First Team (2017) and Second Team (2018) recognition. After a move to the Phoenix Mercury in 2020, she averaged over 19 ppg and also earned the All WNBA First Team honors.
After two seasons in Seattle under head coach Noelle Quinn, Skylar Diggins-Smith decided to move on. She was never likely to stay once Noelle Quinn was let go following a disappointing season in which the Storm finished seventh at 23–21 and exited in the first round of the playoffs.
“Grateful doesn’t even begin to cover it,” Diggins wrote on her social media account Saturday morning. “Thank you to the Seattle Storm organization for believing in me, supporting me, and giving me the opportunity to grow both on and off the court. To the fans…your energy, love, and loyalty never went unnoticed! You made every moment unforgettable. Forever thankful for this chapter and everyone who was a part of it.”
Diggins’ departure signals a complete teardown of the Seattle Storm roster. Nneka Ogwumike has already moved to the Los Angeles Sparks, where she is set to be joined by Erica Wheeler. Meanwhile, Brittney Sykes has signed with the Toronto Tempo, and Gabby Williams is also expected to announce her next destination after parting ways with Seattle.
Entering what will be her 12th season in the WNBA, Skylar chose the Sky to lead their roster overhaul. The 35-year-old brings with her a ton of experience and will be one of the ringleaders in the Sky ranks. No wonder the Sky management is ecstatic about the new hire.
Sky Management Excited To Include ‘Coveted’ Diggins On The Roster
For years now, Chicago Sky GM Jeff Pagliocca has wanted to sign Skylar Diggins to the Chicago team, but it never materialized till today, and now Pagliocca has finally got his moment.
“Skylar is a player we have coveted for years. We are ecstatic to bring her to Chicago. She is one of the all-time elite passers in our game and continues to play at a high level on both sides of the ball,” said Pagliocca.
Rumor has it that the GM did, in fact, come quite close to signing Skylar in 2024, but that initiative didn’t reap dividends. But this time around, stars just aligned perfectly with the free agency frenzy going on, and that changed the landscape.
Skylar averaged 15.5 points and 6 assists per game last season. She was also selected as an All-Star after her comeback with the Seattle Storm, so she has momentum, and the team understands that.
“Diggins is the kind of player who elevates everyone around her. Skylar is a true veteran leader, and she possesses unmatched speed and shot creation potential. I can’t wait to work with her,” said coach Tyler Marsh, who was more than looking forward to welcoming Diggins to the Wintrust Arena.
The Sky might have lost Angel Reese to the Dream, but this roster is shaping up to be pretty impressive on paper. Just a few days ago, Chicago also signed another guard, Jacy Sheldon, to add another player to the team known for her toughness and competitive ability. Sheldon, who has been part of two WNBA seasons with Dallas, Connecticut, and Washington, racks up a 42.3 % FG% and a 35.1 % 3-point accuracy.
They have also gone and signed Azura Stevens, who is coming off arguably the best season of her career, while remaining in trade talks with the Los Angeles Sparks for Rickea Jackson. A potential starting five of Skylar Diggins-Smith, Jacy Sheldon, Jackson, Stevens, and Kamilla Cardoso looks extremely strong on paper. And when you factor in the depth with players like Courtney Vandersloot, Rachel Banham, and Hailey Van Lith coming off the bench, the Sky suddenly look like a very well-rounded unit.
After a disappointing 10–34 season, the Chicago Sky needed players who could make an immediate impact, and general manager Jeff Pagliocca seems to have done a solid job addressing that. The loss of Angel Reese was definitely a bitter pill to swallow, but fans won’t mind seeing this starting five take the floor to begin the season.
As things stand, Chicago has acquired two guards whom they would want to use more in the upcoming season. Although Diggins and Sheldon have never played on the same team together before, it will be interesting to see how these two fare when the spotlights turn bright. Will Sky really unleash the “double trouble” on their rivals?
Written by
Edited by
Pranav Venkatesh