Chicago Sky guard Skylar Diggins is out for the rest of the 2026 WNBA season with a right knee injury.
“We’re in full support of Skylar and want to make sure we are steadfastly prioritizing her health,” Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca said via release. “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.”
On Tuesday, the team announced Diggins would not play again this season to "focus on recovering an aggravated right knee injury." Chicago also said, it made the choice "to prioritize Skylar’s long-term health after collaboration and communication with Skylar and her team, Sky doctors, and the organization’s medical staff."
After two seasons in Seattle, Diggins
signed a fully guaranteed two-year contract with the Sky in the offseason. The veteran guard was immediately inserted into Chicago's lineup, starting 19 games before the team decided to bench her in favor of Courtney Vandersloot. Diggins averaged 14.2 points, 4.9 assists and 3.2 rebounds and last played for the Sky on July 3, scoring 19 points and tallying four assists and one block.
"I've been putting my body on the line all year for this team," Diggins told the media in July. "I've done everything that's been asked of me. I've been great professionally; that's the decision that's made, and I gotta live with that.
"I have no idea where this is coming from or if it's a permanent decision. I'd like it to be if that's what's gonna make us be the most successful at the end of the day."
In the same conversation, Diggins disclosed she's been playing through discomfort all season. She had surgery on her right knee in October, according to the Chicago Sun Times, and she said the lingering effects have been exacerbated by the Sky's lack of resources and facilities.
“I’ve been sacrificing my body for this team,” she said. “Maybe it’s time to take a step back and see what’s going on to see if I need to continue to make those sacrifices without having the proper resources to play at an elite level.”
Earlier July 6, Diggins posted on social media video, appearing to voice frustration with the Sky: "Now I'm coming off the bench?????? Cool." Then she posted a video saying, "And the crazy part about it all is that … I've been so quiet. I've been so good and quiet."
"It's a coach's decision. It's my decision, and the conversations that me and Skylar had will stay between us," Sky coach Tyler Marsh said. "She understands how effective she can still be and how big of a piece that she is for us on this team."
On July 7, Diggins was ruled outof a game against the Phoenix Mercury with a right knee injury. The veteran guard wasn't listed on the injury report heading into the matchup before appearing on the list for the first time that evening. Vandersloot later made her first start in place of Diggins since tearing her right ACL in June 2025. Diggins never suited up again for the Sky.
Beyond playing time with Chicago, the 36-year-old expressed frustrations throughout the season as the Sky struggled to win games.
“Being in this environment, emotionally for me, not having everything that we need to be successful,” Diggins said. “I’ve been elite for decades. And it’s not just from showing up. We fight so hard in our (collective bargaining agreement) to have access to a cold tub, a hot tub, a sauna, a steam room, a chiropractor, acupuncturist, massage therapist, IVs and things like that.
“I was thinking we were going to be in a practice facility, and other things that were told to me. And that’s not been the case. There’s been things outside of people’s control that I understand, too, a lot of moving parts. Lots of places I’ve been were in that process as well, so I get it. But it’s hard to perform at a certain level without those (resources)."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chicago Sky guard Skylar Diggins out for the season with right knee injury
