Skylar Diggins-Smith shines as Storm fall to Sparks in WNBA Canada Game
Photo credit: WNBA
By Christan Braswell
Edmonton, AB - When Seattle Storm star Skylar Diggins-Smith spoke with reporters on Media Day, she said it would take a handful of regular season games to fully acclimate to her new team’s language on the court. Returning to a sell-out crowd in Edmonton for the WNBA Canada Game against the Los Angeles Sparks, it seemed as if she never left the court.
The six-time All-Star led Seattle with 14 points on 62 percent shooting, chipping in five rebounds, five assists, and four steals in 20 minutes.
“It’s just preseason, y’all,” laughed Diggins-Smith when asked if she felt she still needed the grace period. “I try not to internalize too many things about myself, but I defintely see where I want to improve. There’s still some work that needs to detail-wisee detail wise but I still feel the same way. We have to see everyone together first and we haven’t had an opportunity to do that yet so I will still give us that grace.”
Over a year and nine months were inbetween Diggins-Smith and the last time she graced a WNBA court.
“I’m a different person than I was before,” said the 33 year-old Diggins-Smith, who gave birth to her second child during maternity leave. “I’m a mom of two now, and I’m feeling all of that. I’ve got that momma bear energy times two.
The proof was in the pudding as she blew up passing lanes and caused general havoc for ball handlers all night. Finishing with four steals almost feels like an error considering the amount of times she caused a loose ball scenario. The Sparks had 17 first-half turnovers and Diggins-Smith played a large role in Seattle’s defensive intensity on the perimeter.
“But at the same time, that layoff was real,” she went on. “That’s a long time to be away from basketball. I might need some time to get back to playing like I used to, Don’t judge me too harshly by those first two games. I promise it’ll get better.”
There were stretches throughout the game where it appeared as if Diggins-Smith didn’t miss a second of action in the league. There wasn’t a drive to the rim that she didn’t see for the taking and a handful of them were without any Sparks defenders in the paint. Her first step still leaves defenders puzzled, providing several highlight reel moments.
Storm head coach Noelle Quinn had a strategy of getting an ample amount of minutes for the starters in the first half, limiting the time the new trio shared the court as Jewell Loyd tallied 12 points on 4-of-11 shooting in 17 minutes. Nneka Ogwumike struggled in the first game against her old team, finishing with four points on 1-for-6 shooting.
With starters playing limited minutes in the second half, it was time for the reserves to shine and that’s where backup wing Sami Whitcomb and forward Joyner Holmes come in. Whitcomb had 12 points and Holmes added 13 points and four steals.
The Storm were rather short-handed as All-Star Ezi Magbegor (rest) and sophomore wing Jordan Horston (ankle) missed the contest.
Heading to the locker room at the half, Seattle had a six-point lead over a young Sparks team. Forward Dearica Hamby came out of the tunnel determined to right the ship as she was a force on the glass and around the rim, finishing with 17 points on 77 percent shooting, nine rebounds, and five assists. Hamby was the engine that ignited LA’s ferocity on the boards as they enjoyed a 42-19 rebounding advantage.
The Storm play their second and final preseason game against the Phoenix Mercury at Climate Pledge Arena on Tuesday, with a tipoff time of 7PM PDT. This will be the last opportunity that several players will have to showcase their talents to the Storm or potentially the other teams in the WNBA in game action this preseason, as it will be another year of tough decisions to be made as Seattle aims to compete for a fifth WNBA title in franchise history. You can purchase tickets for that preseason game by clicking here.
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