Skylar Diggins benched by Chicago Sky after 19 straight starts
Chicago Sky guard Skylar Diggins was moved to the bench on July 6, 2026, after starting all 19 games this season — a decision she says blindsided her. Head coach Tyler Marsh called it a coach's move to help a struggling 6-14 team, likely opening the starting point guard spot for Courtney Vandersloot.
Key Takeaways
- Diggins revealed the benching on Instagram before confirming it at a Phoenix shootaround ahead of Tuesday's game against the Mercury.
- She said she had been professional and quiet, yet still had no clarity on whether the change is permanent.
- Marsh declined to name her replacement but said private talks with Diggins would stay between them.
- Vandersloot returned June 26 from a torn right ACL and is the likely starter at point guard.
- Former NBA guard Michael Redd said it was hard to accept no longer being the primary option after a career as a star.
Why did the Chicago Sky bench Skylar Diggins?
On Monday, July 6, Diggins told reporters at a shootaround in Phoenix that head coach Tyler Marsh informed her she would come off the bench for the first time since 2016. The move ended a run of 19 consecutive starts in her first season with the Chicago Sky.
Marsh labeled it a "coach's decision" and declined to share specifics, including who would start in her place. He told media the conversations he and Diggins had would remain private, though he said she understands how effective she can still be.
According to USA Today, Diggins is likely being benched in favor of Courtney Vandersloot, 37, who returned to the lineup on June 26 after recovering from a torn right ACL. The Chicago Sun-Times reported Marsh and his staff were still discussing whether the move is short- or long-term.
What did Skylar Diggins say about losing her starting role?
Diggins aired her frustration on social media before speaking to reporters. Her Instagram story read: "Now I'm coming off the bench?????? Cool." In a follow-up video, she added: "And the crazy part about it all is that ... I've been so quiet. I've been so good and quiet."
At the shootaround, Diggins said she had been putting her body on the line and doing everything asked of her professionally. "I have no idea where this is coming from or if it's a permanent decision," she said. "I'd like it to be if that's what's gonna make us be the most successful at the end of the day."
The Sun-Times noted broader friction, reporting that Diggins and Marsh had not spoken since Friday and that there had been "tons" of miscommunication since she joined Chicago in April.
Who might replace Diggins in the Sky starting lineup?
Vandersloot is the most likely replacement. The veteran guard was Chicago's starter in 2025 before her injury and has averaged 8.7 points and 6.0 assists in 16 minutes across three games since returning. Diggins, 35 and an All-Star last season, is averaging 14.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 29.1 minutes.
Despite the benching, Diggins remains one of the Sky's top offensive threats. The Sun-Times noted she ranks second on the team in scoring and assists, leads the roster in free-throw attempts, and is their best three-point shooter at 38.2%.
How did Michael Redd respond to Diggins' frustration?
Former Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Redd weighed in as the story spread beyond Chicago. According to Yahoo Sports, Redd related the situation to his own late-career benching, saying, "It was hard for me to accept I was not the guy anymore."
Redd drew on his NBA experience to empathize with a longtime star adjusting to a reserve role. The Sun-Times had already described tension building between the future Hall of Famer and the organization as the Sky's season unraveled.
The benching lands on a team that retooled by trading Angel Reese, opened 3-1, then lost Rickea Jackson to a torn ACL. Chicago has won just three games since and sits 6-14, 13th in the WNBA standings, with playoff hopes fading before the All-Star break.