Skylar Diggins-Smith Bio
Skylar Kierra Diggins-Smith (born August 2, 1990) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Seattle Storm of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for the Lunar Owls of Unrivaled. A dynamic point guard, she has earned seven WNBA All-Star selections and four All-WNBA First Team honors across her professional career. Diggins was drafted third overall by the Tulsa Shock in the 2013 WNBA draft after a celebrated run at the University of Notre Dame.
Beyond basketball, Diggins has built a reputation as a Nike athlete, a media contributor, and an advocate for youth fitness. She became the first female athlete to sign with Roc Nation Sports in 2013 and has used her platform to speak openly about topics such as postpartum mental health and childhood obesity.
Early Life and Background
Skylar Kierra Diggins was born on August 2, 1990, in South Bend, Indiana, to parents Tige Diggins and Renee Scott. She grew up in a large athletic household alongside three younger brothers named Tige, Destyn, and Maurice, and one younger sister, Hanneaf. From a young age, she balanced multiple sports, including basketball and softball, and her family encouraged her competitive drive.
She attended Washington High School in South Bend, where she was a four-year varsity basketball letter winner. The Panthers posted a combined 102–7 record during her high school career, and Diggins finished with 2,790 points, averaging 25.9 points per game and ranking third on Indiana’s all-time girls’ scoring list at the time. She also competed in volleyball, maintained High Academic Honors, and was a member of the National Honor Society.
Her decorated senior season brought national recognition, including the Naismith Prep Player of the Year, Gatorade National Player of the Year, Gatorade Female Athlete of the Year, and Miss Indiana Basketball awards. Diggins was also named a WBCA All-American and a McDonald’s All-American, and she scored 24 points in the 2009 WBCA High School All-America Game.
Path to Basketball
Diggins represented the United States in international youth competition before stepping on a college campus. She was a member of the gold-medal USA Women’s U18 National Team at the 2008 FIBA U18 Americas Championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina, then played on the 2009 USA U19 World Championship Team that won gold in Bangkok, Thailand. Those experiences sharpened her point-guard instincts against top international competition.
She chose the University of Notre Dame over Stanford, citing the program’s culture and her connection to the campus. Diggins also developed a friendship with Stanford alum Candice Wiggins after visiting the university. At Notre Dame, she pursued a degree from the Mendoza College of Business while leading the Fighting Irish women’s basketball program to national prominence.
Skylar Diggins-Smith Career
Early Career (2009–2013)
As a freshman at Notre Dame, Diggins made her collegiate debut on November 15, 2009, recording 14 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and four steals in a 102–57 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. She set four Notre Dame freshman records and finished the year with 484 points and 112 assists.
By her sophomore season, Diggins had become the second Notre Dame women’s player to reach 1,000 career points before the end of her sophomore year. She led the Irish to the 2011 NCAA championship game, earning a spot on the Final Four All-Tournament Team, and capped her career by winning the Nancy Lieberman Award twice as the nation’s top point guard.
Notre Dame Breakthrough (2009–2013)
Diggins guided Notre Dame to three consecutive Final Fours and two consecutive NCAA championship appearances, making her one of the most decorated players in program history. In her junior year, she became the fourth NCAA Division I player in the past decade to register 600 points, 200 assists, and 100 steals in a single season. She also recorded the first triple-double in Notre Dame postseason history during the 2012 NCAA Tournament.
In her senior season, Diggins posted career-high 33 points and five assists in a 77–67 victory over Tennessee and recorded her second career triple-double against DePaul. She closed her career as Notre Dame’s all-time leader in points, steals, free throws made, free throws attempted, games started, minutes played, double-figure scoring games, and triple-doubles, while ranking second in assists, field goals made, field goals attempted, and games played.
Tulsa Shock and Dallas Wings Era (2013–2019)
Diggins was drafted third overall by the Tulsa Shock in the 2013 WNBA draft and immediately earned a spot on the WNBA All-Rookie Team. She averaged 8.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game in her debut season. Her 2014 campaign was a breakout, as she became a WNBA All-Star starter, set a then-career-high 34 points against the San Antonio Stars, and won the WNBA Most Improved Player Award after finishing second in the league in scoring at 20.1 points per game.
A torn ACL in June 2015 forced her to miss the rest of the 2015 season, but Diggins returned in 2016 to help the franchise during its relocation to Dallas and rebranding as the Dallas Wings. After the birth of her first child in April 2019, she sat out the entire 2019 WNBA season and later revealed she had played the entire 2018 season while pregnant without telling anyone.
Phoenix Mercury Era (2020–2023)
In February 2020, Diggins was acquired by the Phoenix Mercury in a sign-and-trade deal. She returned on July 25, 2020, scoring 14 points and dishing out six assists in a loss to the Las Vegas Aces during the league’s pandemic-delayed bubble season. She later scored a season-high 33 points in a 100–95 overtime win against the Connecticut Sun, helping the Mercury reach the second round of the playoffs.
Diggins earned additional WNBA All-Star selections in 2021 and 2022 while continuing to anchor the Mercury backcourt.
Seattle Storm Era (2024–Present)
On February 1, 2024, Diggins signed a two-year deal with the Seattle Storm, joining the franchise as a veteran playmaker. As of the 2025 season, she has been listed simply as Skylar Diggins on Seattle’s training camp roster. She was also selected to appear in the inaugural season of Unrivaled, a new women’s 3-on-3 basketball league founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, where she plays for the Lunar Owls and sank the game-winning three-pointer in the league’s opening contest.
Driving Style and Strengths
Diggins is a crafty, tempo-setting point guard whose strength lies in her ability to score from multiple levels while also creating offense for teammates. She combines deep shooting range with strong court vision, has consistently delivered career-high assists totals in recent seasons, and has built her reputation on clutch performances in late-game situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Diggins set a Dallas Wings franchise record with seven three-pointers in a win over the San Antonio Stars in 2017, posted a career-high 35 points and 12 rebounds against the Indiana Fever in 2018, and captured an Olympic gold medal with Team USA at the 2020 Tokyo Games. She also became the first female athlete to sign with Roc Nation Sports in 2013.
Skylar Diggins-Smith Career Wins
Across her WNBA career, Diggins has accumulated individual accolades that include seven All-Star selections, four All-WNBA First Team nods, the 2014 WNBA Most Improved Player Award, and a spot on the 2013 WNBA All-Rookie Team. While she has not captured a WNBA championship, her sustained excellence has placed her among the most decorated point guards of her era.
WNBA Highlights
Her 2014 All-Star season remains a career benchmark, as she ranked second in the league in scoring and fourth in assists while leading the Tulsa Shock in scoring. In 2017, she helped the Dallas Wings reach the playoffs as the number seven seed and scored 15 points in her first career postseason game against the Washington Mystics.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond the WNBA, Diggins won gold medals with USA Basketball at the 2008 FIBA U18 Americas Championship, the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship, the 2011 World University Games, and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She also led Notre Dame to Big East championships and three consecutive Final Four appearances during her college career.
Skylar Diggins-Smith Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Skylar Kierra Diggins was raised in South Bend, Indiana, by her parents Tige Diggins and Renee Scott, and she grew up with three younger brothers and one younger sister. Her family’s strong athletic foundation helped shape her competitive mindset from an early age.
Personal Life
Diggins became engaged to longtime boyfriend Daniel Smith, a former Clay High School and Notre Dame wide receiver, in June 2016. The couple married in May 2017, after which she adopted the hyphenated last name Diggins-Smith. Together they have two children. According to public reports dated May 1, 2025, Diggins filed for divorce from Daniel Smith on March 26, 2025, after the couple separated in November 2024, citing an irretrievably broken marriage, and she is now going by Skylar Diggins in the WNBA.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 WNBA season marks a fresh chapter for Diggins in her second year with the Seattle Storm. She joined the Lunar Owls for Unrivaled’s inaugural season and opened the league with a game-winning three-pointer against the Mist on January 17, 2025, reinforcing her reputation as a clutch closer. She was also named a 2025 WNBA All-Star, earning her seventh career selection.
On the international stage, Diggins continues to be regarded as one of the most accomplished American point guards of her generation, an Olympic gold medalist, and a proven leader for any roster she joins.
Entering the back half of her two-year Storm contract that runs through 2026, Diggins is positioned as a veteran mentor and offensive engine for a young Seattle core.