Skylar Diggins will miss the remainder of the WNBA season to focus on recovering from an aggravated right knee injury, the Chicago Sky announced Tuesday.
“We’re in full support of Skylar and want to make sure we are steadfastly prioritizing her health,” Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca said. “Skylar made a strong effort to get back to the court this season. She’s been in constant communication with us through the entire process.”
Diggins said she’s been in lockstep with the Sky throughout the season regarding her rehab. When the team was on the road, she would travel back to Notre Dame, where she played from 2009-2013, to work with a medical team there. Upon reevaluation, it was determined it would be best to “scale back and shut it down for the season,” Diggins said.
The plan is for Diggins to continue doing biometric and biokinetic testing at Notre Dame as well as working with the Sky training staff during the FIBA World Cup break, which runs through Sept. 16.
Diggins signed a two-year contract with the Sky in April valued at $1.86 million. She appeared in just 19 games as a starter, averaging 14.2 points and 4.9 assists. She has not appeared in a game since July, when she was relegated to coming off the bench.
At the time, she responded with a post on her Instagram story saying, “Now I’m coming off the bench?????? Cool.” Sky coach Tyler Marsh described her reserve role as a “coach’s decision.” Diggins was later listed on the Sky’s injury report as out with a right knee injury and has remained sidelined.
Diggins said Tuesday she had been playing through “a lot” before being moved to a bench role for the Sky. She had been undergoing testing on her right knee and was limited in practices and shootarounds. She said she was supposed to be on a minutes restriction as well.
“I hadn’t been feeling like myself out there,” Diggins said. “Our situation, whatever that was, whatever decision Tyler was making for me and with the organization, it’s always been prioritizing my health.”
Diggins had surgery in October to repair a torn meniscus in her right knee. She returned to the court in January playing with Unrivaled. But she said it’s been an “uphill battle” to return to full health. She added that the load early in the season while the Sky were shorthanded contributed to a desire to push through “until we were able to get those reinforcements.”
Diggins was vocal about issues within the Sky organization, specifically about a lack of resources due to delays in the construction of the team’s practice facility. In early July, she told local reporters, according to the Chicago Sun-Times: “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.”
On Tuesday, Diggins said she’s had a lot of conversations with Marsh, Pagliocca and Sky principal owner Michael Alter. She characterized this season as a “frustrating experience for a lot of us” because of what they felt the season could look like compared to the outcome.
The Sky were eliminated from playoff contention on Aug. 23 after a loss to the Indiana Fever and will have just four games remaining when the WNBA resumes play on Sept. 17 after a two-week break for the FIBA World Cup.
There was speculation that Diggins had requested a trade following her move to the bench. She dispelled those rumors Tuesday, saying trade talks were never on the table.
“Shutting it down for the season has nothing to do with next year,” Diggins said. “We’ll have to see how the offseason goes, but we’ve never had any talks with the organization and I about trades, or wanting a trade or anything like that during this process.
“One of the big reasons why we’re shutting this down is to prioritize my health, for the future and for the future with this organization.”
Diggins said while she hasn’t expressed any desire to move on next year, she remains adamant that resources need to improve in Chicago. The Sky rotated between practice locations throughout the season, with Diggins adding that certain road trips were extended because the team didn’t have anywhere to practice in Chicago, calling it the biggest frustration of the season.
The Sky’s new practice facility, which Diggins plans to tour next week, was delayed multiple times and is now scheduled to open in November.
“With it being very unique and all the amenities we’re planning to have there, I expect next year we won’t lead the league in games missed to injuries,” Diggins said.