Skylar Diggins-Smith facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Skylar Diggins-Smith

Diggins-Smith with the Seattle Storm in 2024
No. 4 – Seattle Storm
Point guard
Personal information
Born	(1990-08-02) August 2, 1990 (age 34) South Bend, Indiana, U.S.
High school	Washington (South Bend, Indiana)
Listed height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Listed weight	140 lb (64 kg)
Career information
College	Notre Dame (2009–2013)
NBA Draft	2013 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3rd overall
Selected by the Tulsa Shock
Pro career	2013–Present
League	WNBA
Career history
2013–2019	Tulsa Shock / Dallas Wings
2020–2023	Phoenix Mercury
2024–present	Seattle Storm
2025–present	Lunar Owls BC
Career highlights and awards
6× WNBA All-Star (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022) 4× All-WNBA First Team (2014, 2017, 2021, 2022) 2× All-WNBA Second Team (2018, 2020) Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award (2018) WNBA Most Improved Player (2014) WNBA All-Rookie Team (2013) 2× Nancy Lieberman Award (2012, 2013) Dawn Staley Award (2013) 3x State Farm/WBCA Coaches' All-American (2011–2013) 2x All-American – USBWA (2012, 2013) 2× First-team All-American – AP (2012, 2013) Third-team All-American – AP (2011) 2× Big East Player of the Year (2012, 2013) 3x First-team All-Big East (2011–2013) Big East All-Freshman Team (2010) McDonald's All-American (2009) Indiana Miss Basketball (2009) Gatorade National Player of the Year (2009)
Medals Women's basketball Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 2020 Tokyo Team U18 and U19 Gold 2008 U18 Buenos Aires Gold 2009 U19 Bangkok World University Games Gold 2011 Shenzhen Basketball 3x3 World Championship Gold 2012 Athens

Skylar Kierra Diggins-Smith (born August 2, 1990) is an American professional basketball player. She plays for the Seattle Storm in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).

Skylar was picked third in the 2013 WNBA draft by the Tulsa Shock. In high school, she was named the National Gatorade Player of the Year. She played college basketball for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. She helped her team reach the Final Four three times in a row and play in two NCAA championship games. Skylar finished her college career as Notre Dame's top scorer and leader in steals. She also won the Nancy Lieberman Award twice, which is given to the best point guard in the country.

Skylar's Early Life and High School Career

Skylar Diggins-Smith was born in South Bend, Indiana. Her parents are Tige Diggins and Renee Scott. She has three younger brothers, Tige, Destyn, and Maurice, and one younger sister, Hanneaf. Growing up, she also enjoyed playing softball.

Skylar played basketball for four years at Washington High School in South Bend. Her team, the Panthers, had an amazing record of 102 wins and only 7 losses. Skylar led the Panthers to state championship games, including winning the title in 2007. She scored 2,790 points in her high school career, which is the third-highest total for a girl in Indiana history. This means she averaged 25.9 points per game!

She received many national awards, such as the Naismith Prep Player of the Year and Gatorade National Player of the Year. She was also named Indiana Miss Basketball. Skylar was chosen as a WBCA All-American and a McDonald's All-American. She scored 24 points in the 2009 WBCA High School All-America Game. Besides basketball, she played volleyball and was a great student, earning High Academic Honors and being part of the National Honor Society.

College Basketball Journey

Skylar chose to play college basketball at Notre Dame. She became the fourth player from Indiana to join the Irish team in 2009–10.

Freshman Year: Setting Records

Skylar played her first college game for Notre Dame on November 15, 2009. She scored 14 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, made 5 assists, and had 4 steals. During her first year, she set four new records for Notre Dame freshmen. Her 484 total points were the fourth-best ever for a freshman. Her 112 assists were the third-most by a freshman.

In the 2010 NCAA tournament, Skylar scored 31 points, made 6 assists, and had 7 steals in a win against Vermont. Her 31 points were the most ever scored by a Notre Dame player in their first tournament game.

Sophomore Year: Reaching the Championship

In her second year, Skylar became a nationally known player. She helped the Irish reach the championship game for the second time in school history. She was the second Notre Dame women's basketball player to score 1,000 points before the end of her sophomore year.

Skylar scored a season-high 24 points in a win against Tennessee, helping Notre Dame reach its third Final Four. She was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Dayton Regional. In the Final Four, she scored 28 points, made 6 assists, and had 4 rebounds in a win against UConn. Even though Notre Dame lost the national championship game to Texas A&M, Skylar scored 23 points and was named to the Final Four All-Tournament Team.

Junior Year: Big East Player of the Year

In her junior year, Skylar became one of only a few NCAA Division I players to get over 600 points, 200 assists, and 100 steals in one season. She set a school record with 102 steals. Her 222 assists were the third-most in a single season for Notre Dame, and her 657 points were the fourth-most.

After leading Notre Dame to win the Big East regular-season title, she was named Big East Player of the Year. She was also chosen for the first-team All-Big East. In the NCAA Tournament, Skylar achieved her first "triple-double" (scoring double digits in three different stats) with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists against Maryland. She helped Notre Dame reach the championship game for the second year in a row. Skylar was named a unanimous first-team All-American and won the Nancy Lieberman Award as the best point guard in the nation.

Senior Year: More Records and Awards

In her final year at Notre Dame, Skylar scored a career-high 33 points against Tennessee. She also recorded her second career triple-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists against DePaul. She had 225 assists, the third-most in school history, and 114 steals, the most in a single season.

She was named Big East Player of the Year for the second year in a row. In the Big East Tournament, Skylar led the Irish to their first Big East championship game victory. She made a game-winning steal and assist with seconds left to beat UConn. Skylar scored 27 points in a win against Duke, helping Notre Dame reach its third straight Final Four. She won the Nancy Lieberman Award again, becoming only the third player to win it twice.

Skylar is the only Notre Dame basketball player (male or female) to have over 2,000 points, 500 rebounds, 500 assists, and 300 steals in her career. She finished her time at Notre Dame as the school's leader in points, steals, free throws made, and games started.

Professional Basketball Career

Diggins-Smith with the Dallas Wings in 2017

WNBA: Tulsa Shock / Dallas Wings (2013–2019)

In the 2013 WNBA draft, Skylar was picked 3rd overall by the Tulsa Shock. In her first year, she averaged 8.5 points per game and led the Shock in assists. She was named to the All-Rookie Team.

Skylar had a fantastic year in the 2014 WNBA season. She was named a WNBA All-Star for the first time and was voted as a starter. She scored a career-high 34 points in a game against the San Antonio Stars. Skylar finished second in the league in scoring with 20.1 points per game. She won the 2014 WNBA Most Improved Player Award.

In June 2015, Skylar suffered a serious knee injury (a torn ACL) and missed the rest of the season. Even though she only played 9 games, she was still named a WNBA All-Star starter.

After recovering, Skylar returned for the 2016 season. By this time, the Tulsa Shock team had moved to Dallas, Texas and was renamed the Dallas Wings. Skylar signed a new contract with the Wings.

In the 2017 season, Skylar played all 34 games and returned to her top form. She scored a season-high 30 points and made a team record 7 three-pointers in a win against the San Antonio Stars. She was voted into the 2017 WNBA All-Star Game. Skylar averaged 18.5 points per game and helped the Wings reach the playoffs.

Diggins-Smith in 2018

On June 8, 2018, Skylar scored a new career-high of 35 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in a win over the Indiana Fever. She was voted into the 2018 WNBA All-Star Game for her fourth All-Star appearance. The Wings made the playoffs but lost in the first round.

In 2019, Skylar did not play the season because she had her first child in April. After the season, she shared on social media that she had played the entire 2018 season while pregnant. She also mentioned that she took time off for her mental health and was unhappy with the Dallas Wings for not supporting her during her absence.

WNBA: Phoenix Mercury (2020–2023)

In January 2020, Skylar announced she would not return to the Dallas Wings. In February 2020, she joined the Phoenix Mercury in a trade deal. The 2020 season was shorter due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Skylar returned to play on July 25, 2020. On September 9, 2020, she scored a season-high 33 points in an overtime win. The Mercury made the playoffs and won their first game but were defeated in the second round.

WNBA: Seattle Storm (2024–present)

On February 1, 2024, Skylar Diggins-Smith signed a two-year contract with the Seattle Storm.

Playing for the National Team

Skylar has proudly represented the United States in international basketball.

Youth Teams

• In 2008, she was part of the USA Women's U18 National Team. They won the gold medal at the FIBA U18 Americas Championship in Argentina. Skylar started all five games and was a top player in scoring, assists, and steals.
• In 2009, she played on the USA U19 World Championship Team in Thailand. They won the gold medal with an 8–1 record.
• In 2011, Skylar played for USA Basketball at the World University Games in China. They won all six games and earned the gold medal. She led the team in points, assists, and steals in several games.

Olympic Gold Medalist

On June 21, 2021, Skylar was chosen for the 12-player roster for Team USA at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. She and Team USA won the gold medal in the tournament, beating Japan 90–75 in the final game.

Skylar's Basketball Statistics

These tables show Skylar Diggins-Smith's performance in the WNBA and college.

WNBA Regular Season Statistics

WNBA Playoff Statistics

College Statistics

Off the Court Activities

Diggins-Smith playing in the 2014 NBA All-Star Celebrity game (Michael B. Jordan also pictured)

Skylar Diggins-Smith is also known for her work off the basketball court. She has supported efforts against childhood obesity. She has also been a guest interviewer for ESPN and a model for Nike. Skylar has appeared in Vogue magazine and in a swimsuit photo shoot for Sports Illustrated.

Since the 2020-21 NBA season, Skylar has also been a guest announcer for the Phoenix Suns basketball team. She hosts "Shoot 4 The Sky" camps around the world for boys and girls in grades 2–12, teaching them basketball skills.

Personal Life

Skylar has a degree from Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business. In June 2016, she got engaged to her longtime boyfriend, Daniel Smith. He was a wide receiver for Clay High School and Notre Dame. The couple got married in May 2017, and she changed her last name to Diggins-Smith. They welcomed their first child in April 2019. On October 17, 2022, Skylar shared that they were expecting their second child.

Endorsement Deals

In 2013, Skylar Diggins-Smith made history by signing with Roc Nation Sports, becoming the first female athlete to join them. That same year, she also signed a deal with Nike. In 2014, she signed an endorsement deal with Bodyarmor SuperDrink.

Awards and Honors

Skylar Diggins-Smith has received many awards throughout her basketball career.

WNBA Awards

• 6× WNBA All-Star (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022)
• 4× All-WNBA First Team (2014, 2017, 2021, 2022)
• 2× All-WNBA Second Team (2018, 2020)
• WNBA Most Improved Player (2014)

College Awards

• Dawn Staley Award (2013)
• 2× Nancy Lieberman Award (2012, 2013)
• 2× Big East Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Year (2012, 2013)

High School Awards

• 2009 Naismith Prep Player of the Year
• Three-time high school All-American by Parade magazine
• Two-time Gatorade Indiana Player of the Year (2008 and 2009)
• 2009 Indiana Miss Basketball

Filmography

TV Appearances

See also

In Spanish: Skylar Diggins-Smith para niños