Chicago Sky guard Skylar Diggins woke up the WNBA world on Monday morning with an Instagram post protesting an apparent demotion.
It turned out that Sky head coach Tyler Marsh informed the 12-year veteran that she would be coming off the bench in the team’s next game against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday.
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Diggins, who has started every game she’s played since the 2017 season, including all 19 for the Sky this campaign, did not take it well and unloaded her frustration on Instagram.
Former NBA star Michael Redd said he could very much relate to what Diggins feels. However, he added that it’s a reality all players have to face as they get older.
“Love Skylar Diggins, Hall of Famer. No debate. But one of the hardest things for any hooper is getting older. Not because you wake up one day and can’t play. That’s (almost) never how it happens. You just lose a little. Half a step. A little burst. A little vert. Coming off the bench after being the No. 1 player your whole career? Man… that’s hard. Trust me, I know,”wrote Redd on “X.”
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The Redd Machine
As he said, he knows first-hand. Redd was the Milwaukee Bucks’ leading gunner during the second half of the 2000s. Not only was he a 20-point scorer for six straight seasons, but at his peak, he was also an All-Star and All-NBA player.
In 2007, he was named to the U.S. men’s basketball team for the FIBA Americas Tournament, and the following year, he played on the iconic Redeem Team with Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. However, after suffering a torn ACL and MCL in January 2009, Redd’s career slowly faded.
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A year later, he re-tore his ACL and MCL and played only 18 games during the 2009-10 NBA season. That was the beginning of the end. During the final two years of his NBA career, Redd was relegated to a bench role. The injuries and his inability to do the things he used to convinced him to retire at the age of 32.
“It was hard for me to admit I wasn’t that guy anymore. That’s part of why I retired. Every former go-to player I know has had to wrestle with that part of it,” Redd added.
Sky don’t need drama, they need wins
Meanwhile, Diggins is already 35 years old. Despite that, she is having a great year for the Sky, averaging 14.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game. However, with the return of 37-year-old Courtney Vandersloot from injury and the presence of a third point guard in 34-year-old Natasha Cloud, Diggins’ team’s second-best 29.1 minutes per game of playing time will be affected. As she said, Coach Marsh told her she was coming off the bench moving forward.
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“I’ve been in this league for almost 400 games. I’ve been in a lot of places, and that’s always the case. 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 gotta live with that,” she later said.
While Marsh acknowledged telling Diggins she won’t be starting in their next game, he did not say if it was a permanent change or a temporary move. However, what is clear is that the 6-14 Sky need to start winning a lot of games to get back in the playoff hunt. And they don’t need this kind of drama to get in the way. As Redd said, it’s either Diggins is going to take it on the chin or leave the game early like he did.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jul 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
