Diggins-Smith on way to WNBA’s Storm
Skylar Diggins-Smith, the most sought after guard on the WNBA market, signed with the Seattle Storm Thursday, the team announced. The contract is a two-year deal, according to The Next’s Howard Megdal. The six-time All-Star joins the Storm after missing the 2023 WNBA season while on maternity leave. The signing also puts an end to a rocky tenure with the Phoenix Mercury.
“Joining the Seattle Storm is the ideal next step in my basketball journey,” Diggins-Smith said in a statement. “The organization’s dedication to its players and the progression of the league is commendable. I’m laser focused for the upcoming season.”
The last time Diggins-Smith was on the court, she averaged 19.7 points, 5.5 assists and 4.0 rebounds for the Mercury, which landed her a WNBA first team selection in 2022. Diggins-Smith was selected to a WNBA first or second team six times in her career.
The second-most sought after guard on the market reportedly came off the board on Thursday. Natasha Cloud intends to sign with the Mercury. Cloud spent her entire eight-year career with the Washington Mystics. She played a crucial role as a starter in the team’s 2019 WNBA championship and is most known for her defensive toughness on the perimeter.
Her last game for the Mystics came in a gut-wrenching five-point elimination loss to the Liberty in Game 2 in the first round of the playoffs in 2023. She finished with 33 points, nine assists, six rebounds and four steals. The guard averaged 12.7 points and 3.7 boards for the Mystics last season. Her 6.2 assists per game in 2023 ranked fifth in the league.
OTHER NOTABLE SIGNINGS
Guard Jordin Canada is finalizing a contract with the Atlanta Dream via a sign-andtrade deal with the Los Angeles Sparks. The Sparks sent Canada and the No. 12 pick in the 2024 draft in exchange for Aari McDonald and the No. 8 pick in the 2024 draft, the teams announced. The move comes after the Sparks used a core designation on the guard following a career year. Canada averaged career-highs in points (13.3), assists (6.0), rebounds (3.1), steals (2.3) and three-point percentage (33.3%) after signing a training camp deal with the Sparks last offseason.
The Dream continued its busy offseason by signing eight-time All-Star Tina Charles and former Lynx wing Aerial Powers, the team announced. Tanisha Wright’s team also re-signed forward Nia Coffey.
Guard Courtney Williams is expected to sign a two-year guaranteed deal with the Minnesota Lynx, according to Girls Talk Sports TV. Williams averaged 10.4 points, 6.3 assists and 6.0 rebounds in 40 games with the Chicago Sky in 2023. Her assists average ranked fourth in the league in 2023 and will improve a Lynx team that already include MVP candidate Napheesa Collier and young star Diamond Miller.
Former Liberty forward DiDi Richards is signing with the Mystics, the 24-year-old announced on her podcast with Terrika Foster-Brasby. Richards was a fan favorite in her two seasons with the Liberty from 2021-22.
The Dallas Wings reached a multi-year agreement with center Kalani Brown.