Skylar Diggins Blames Sky’s Lack of Resources For Injuries After Ending Season

Skylar Diggins has generally been a vocal athlete, speaking out whenever she is not happy with a situation.

Skylar Diggins Blames Sky’s Lack of Resources For Injuries After Ending Season

Sky guard Skylar Diggins (Image via I Talk Hoops/X)

When Angel Reese left the Chicago Sky this offseason, many felt that this was a repeated instance of top players leaving the team after being unhappy with the front office or the infrastructure. This season, Skylar Diggins was the latest to speak up about it.

The 36-year-old joined the franchise with the view that GM Jeff Pagliocca‘s vision of bringing together top veterans was going to mesh well with the team’s younger cast.

Bringing Rickea Jackson along was another bold move. However, the forward suffered an ACL tear early on and will not be able to suit up until next season.

In the midst of this, Diggins was benched, and that was the first time she started to speak out about the team, the organization, coaches, and the front office. She initially claimed to be keeping her mouth shut, but now has chosen to speak out.

We need resources… and I think leading the league in injuries is not coincidental.

Skylar Diggins told Kareem Copeland

Apart from her comments detailed in this article, the mother of two also spoke about how the frustrations over the lack of infrastructure affected players.

That would be the biggest frustration with this season, just never feeling like we had a home base. Sometimes we have limits or restrictions or how many hours we could be there, and that affects everything when you’re trying to be a pro and get in what you need.

Kareem Copeland quoted Diggins

This means that the veteran guard is squarely placing the blame for this season’s injury struggles on the lack of infrastructure. Had it been like what she experienced in Phoenix or Seattle, they could have enjoyed a more successful campaign.

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Skylar Diggins not leaving the Sky

These complaints are not alien to the Chicago Sky, as they have not been able to give adequate resources to their players. Time and again, the team’s biggest stars have left. That is why the next question was whether Skylar Diggins was thinking of leaving.

Skylar Diggins wants to be back with Sky
Skylar Diggins wants to be back with Sky (Image via Ballislife/X)

I haven’t expressed any desire to not talk about me in a Chicago Sky uniform next year. I’ll be looking forward to it next year.

Diggins told Copeland

This means that even though she was benched, the point guard wants to continue playing in Chicago. The team has struggled this season and rotated their lineup that includes three players at the same position.

If Skylar Diggins were to return next year, head coach Tyler Marsh would be tasked with figuring out how to utilize her and fellow playmakers Courtney Vandersloot and Natasha Howard.

Some might believe that the latter’s outbursts towards political issues this season could be a good enough reason for the Sky to let her go. But Cloud has been integral to the team’s five wins in August.

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Skylar Diggins quietly optimistic for future with Tylar Marsh

When Tylar Marsh benched Skylar Diggins, many felt that the decision would become disastrous enough for the head coach’s career. Or it could turn into something meaningful for the team.

I haven’t spent as much time as I wanted to as a player under him to talk about, properly, maybe his development as a coach. But does he love basketball? Yes, we know that. It’s hard for me to speak on next year and what we’re doing next year. But just seeing him and game-by-game, how he’s locked into the team, that’s promising.

Diggins told Copeland

So far, even though Diggins’ injury helped support the decision, it has enabled the Sky to post their best record under Marsh, with four games left. Therefore, the improvements this season could be enough to keep him on the job.

If the team can avoid injuries next season, it is possible that they take a significant leap. That is why Skylar Diggins remains optimistic, with Marsh leading the charge.

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