Skylar Diggins, who signed with the Chicago Sky in April, has confirmed she will miss the remainder of the 2026 season due to a knee injury sustained on July 3. However, her frustrations extend beyond her injury, as she has openly criticized the delays surrounding the team's practice facility, which she believes have contributed to the Sky's struggles this season.
In a press conference held shortly after announcing her season-ending injury, Diggins expressed her disappointment with the lack of a stable home base for the team. "That would be the biggest frustration with this season, just never feeling like we had a home base," she stated. The Sky's new $60 million practice facility, originally slated to open before the season, has faced multiple delays, leading to the team having to practice at various locations, including local colleges and Wintrust Arena. This situation has forced the organization to spend $160,000 for a month of practice at the University of Illinois in Chicago.
Diggins connected the instability of the team's practice environment to the high number of injuries the Sky have suffered this season. Currently, the Sky lead the league in games missed due to injury, and Diggins did not shy away from suggesting that this trend is not coincidental. "No shade, but you know we need resources," she remarked. "Obviously leading the league in injuries, I think it’s not coincidental." Her comments reflect a growing concern among players regarding the impact of inadequate facilities on performance and health.
In her remarks, Diggins also highlighted the efforts of the players' executive committee, which has been advocating for better resources beyond just salary and revenue sharing. She emphasized the importance of having a standard for the resources necessary for professional success. "A lot of things were out of our control with the practice facility, and wanting to be in that. I think a lot of us were promised that," Diggins noted, indicating a sense of betrayal regarding the team's commitments.
Diggins, now 36, signed a two-year, $1.86 million contract with the Sky, expecting the team's infrastructure to match its ambitions. Alongside her signing, the Sky acquired notable players like Azurá Stevens and DiJonai Carrington while re-signing Rachel Banham, a close friend of Diggins. Despite these moves, the season has been marred by injuries, preventing the team from achieving its potential.
When asked if she would have signed with the Sky had she known about the facility delays, Diggins offered a nuanced response. "That’s hard to say," she replied, acknowledging the complexities surrounding such delays. The new facility is expected to open in Bedford Park, a suburb of Chicago, and Diggins mentioned that the team plans to tour it soon. She is already looking ahead to next season, expressing optimism that the team will not lead the league in injuries next year. "I expect that next year, we won’t lead the league in games missed to injuries," Diggins stated confidently.
Despite the challenges of the current season, Diggins has dismissed any trade rumors, affirming her intention to return to the Sky in 2027. As the team prepares for the future, the hope is that the new facility will provide the necessary resources to support player health and performance.
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