Skylar Diggins-Smith inks 2-year Storm deal

Skylar Diggins-Smith has announced her move to the Seattle Storm via Instagram. The accomplished point guard will sign a two-year contract, with the first year valued at $219,000 and the second at $214,466, according to The Next’s Howard Megdal.

At 33, Diggins-Smith stands out as one of the top point guards in free agency. In the 2022 season, she ranked third in league scoring, boasting an impressive average of 19.7 points per game while playing for the Phoenix Mercury. Her well-rounded contributions included a near career-high of 5.5 assists per game and a career-best 4.0 rebounds per game. These stellar performances earned her a fourth All-WNBA First-Team selection and garnered MVP award votes.

The anticipation surrounding Diggins-Smith’s landing spot has been a focal point in free agency discussions for over a year, stemming from tensions with the Phoenix Mercury. Her absence from last season was attributed to maternity leave.

This move marks a reunion with former Notre Dame teammate Jewell Loyd, creating a noteworthy partnership. The duo played together during the 2012-13 season when Loyd was a freshman and Diggins-Smith a senior, reaching the Final Four but falling to UConn.

Basketball Live score

In preparation for the signing period, Seattle created cap space by executing a trade on Wednesday. The Storm traded guard Kia Nurse and the No. 4 pick in this year’s draft to the Los Angeles Sparks, presenting an opportunity for significant signings. This strategic move aims to rejuvenate the team, which missed the playoffs for the first time since 2015. Seattle is undergoing a transitional phase following the retirement of Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart’s departure to the Liberty last offseason.

Skylar Diggins-Smith, returning from maternity leave, opted not to participate in the 2023 WNBA season following the birth of her second child. A strained relationship with the Phoenix Mercury emerged, exacerbated by the team’s decision to bar her from utilizing the practice facility and its resources during this period. This discord followed previous incidents, including a bench altercation with Diana Taurasi and a clown emoji incident in 2022.

The discourse between Diggins-Smith and the Mercury remained minimal, with team personnel mainly acknowledging her contractual status and maternity leave without delving into substantial discussions. Expressing her discontent and seeking a fresh start, Diggins-Smith took to Twitter last year to share her excitement about playing elsewhere.

The Mercury originally acquired Diggins-Smith in a 2020 trade with the Dallas Wings. This move was prompted by Diggins-Smith’s expressed desire not to continue playing for the Wings. During that time, she took to social media, highlighting her feelings of lack of support from the organization during her initial pregnancy in 2019, citing “limited resources” provided to her.

Her professional journey began when the Tulsa Shock drafted her as the No. 3 overall pick out of Notre Dame in the 2013 WNBA Draft. Following the team’s relocation to Dallas in 2015, Diggins-Smith spent six of her nine professional seasons with the franchise, amassing four All-Star selections during her tenure.

The challenges faced by Diggins-Smith with the Mercury underscore the complexities that can arise in professional sports, extending beyond on-court performance to encompass organizational dynamics and interpersonal relationships. As she looks ahead to a new chapter, the circumstances surrounding her departure from the Mercury illuminate the broader issues and complexities present in the world of women’s professional basketball.