Diggins Sidelined With Knee Recovery as Role Discussions Gain Traction With Sky Coach

The Sky’s offense was clicking again Friday night.

Five players scored in double figures and they got a much-needed win against the Sparks. But point guard Skylar Diggins could only watch as she continued to manage discomfort in her right knee.

Diggins clarified that the issue is residual from knee surgery she underwent in October. She has been doing physical therapy and working with the Sky’s medical staff but has not practiced and does not have a timeline for her return.

“All I can say is I’ve been progressing day by day,” Diggins said before the game. “Hopefully no setbacks and just playing from there.”

In the meantime, Diggins said she has had productive conversations with coach Tyler Marsh about her role. Marsh moved her to the bench earlier this month, a decision Diggins said caught her off guard and was not communicated clearly.

She has since told Marsh she is prepared to do whatever it takes to “contribute to winning basketball.”

Diggins, who had been playing through discomfort to start the season, also previously said the Sky lacked some of the resources needed to compete at an elite level. To that end, she called it “a little disappointing” to learn the team will not move into its new Bedford Park practice facility this season.

“I understand setbacks and things like that happen,” Diggins said. “With a lot of us going through [injuries], it’s just unfortunate because we need a lot of those resources that it was going to provide.

“We’ve been really grateful for DePaul and Wintrust that let us be here. So we’re going to do the best that we can with the resources that we have.”

Block party

Veteran center Elizabeth Williams is moving up the record book.

She cracked the top 10 on the WNBA’s career blocks list with 508. She said the keys to a good block are timing and scouting, but the best part is establishing enough of a presence to make opponents think twice before entering the lane.

Williams sensed the milestone was approaching because she has been keeping an eye on Aces star A’ja Wilson, who ranks eighth.

She said it “would be cool” to eventually reach the top five. Former Sky great Candace Parker is fifth with 619, so a couple more healthy, productive seasons could put Parker within reach.

Buckets no one saw coming

Rookie guard Sydney Taylor is also chasing history — and proving to the Sky’s best find in recent years.

Taylor is averaging 13 points per game, which would be the highest scoring average by an undrafted rookie in WNBA history if she maintains it through the end of the season. She lit it up against the Sparks, scoring 19 points on 4-7 from deep.

Cardoso cleared

Center Kamilla Cardoso returned to the lineup Friday after missing the Sky’s win over the Storm with knee soreness. She looked solid with 13 points, 11 rebounds and 3 assists in 23 minutes.

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