Chicago Sky guard cites $60m facility delays as injury woes persist
Skylar Diggins has identified inconsistent training conditions as a key factor in the Chicago Sky’s third consecutive playoff miss, following a knee injury that ended her 2026 campaign.
Chicago Sky guard Skylar Diggins has ruled out the remainder of the 2026 WNBA season with a knee injury, a setback that has contributed to the franchise missing the playoffs for the third consecutive year. Although the injury was officially announced on Tuesday, Diggins stated at a subsequent press conference that she had been managing the condition throughout the entire season.
The 36-year-old identified the delay of the team’s new $60 million practice facility as her "biggest frustration" of the year. The facility, located in Bedford Park, Illinois, was originally expected to be operational by the start of the season but was pushed back multiple times before the club confirmed in July it would not be ready until after the season concluded.
During the construction period, the Sky were forced to train at various temporary locations, including Wintrust Arena and several Chicago colleges. According to documents obtained by Front Office Sports, the team paid $160,000 to practise at the University of Illinois in Chicago for approximately one month between April and May. Diggins noted that these arrangements often came with restrictions on training hours, which she argued impacted player preparation.
The lack of a consistent home base has coincided with a significant rise in player absences. Chicago currently leads the league in games missed due to injury this season. Diggins suggested the correlation was not coincidental, stating that the team requires specific resources for effective injury management.
Despite the setbacks, Diggins expects to remain with the Sky next season. She anticipates that the new facility will allow the team to execute its full strategic vision and reduce injury rates. The squad is scheduled to tour the Bedford Park site next week to assess the progress of the build.
The injury also marked a shift in Diggins’ role under head coach Tyler Marsh. In July, Marsh moved Diggins from the starting lineup to the bench for the first time in her 11-year career, although she was ultimately ruled out before that game took place.
