CHICAGO (Reuters) — Skylar Diggins will be traded before the Aug. 2 WNBA deadline. The Chicago Sky guard, averaging 9.8 points on 38.2% shooting in 22.4 minutes this season, forced the issue after a public social media outburst over her bench role. The Connecticut Sun emerge as the likely winners, but multiple suitors remain in play.
Diggins’ scoring is down 4.2 points from her 2024 All-Star season. Her player efficiency rating has dropped to 14.1, a career low. The Sky, sitting at 12-14, have little incentive to keep a disgruntled veteran. Trading her now for assets makes them a seller — and a winner in the long term.
3 Potential Skylar Diggins Trade Destinations
Destination 1: Connecticut Sun — The Sun need a veteran playmaker alongside Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner. Diggins can slot into a sixth-woman role or start. Connecticut’s defensive system (league-best 94.3 defensive rating) can mask her declining lateral quickness. The price: a future second-round pick and a salary filler.
Destination 2: New York Liberty — A dark horse. New York has $1.2 million in cap space. Diggins would provide backcourt scoring off the bench behind Sabrina Ionescu. The Liberty rank eighth in bench scoring (21.4 PPG). The fit is clean, but New York may prioritize a younger guard.
Destination 3: Las Vegas Aces — A blockbuster fit. The Aces want a third title. Diggins’ clutch shooting (career 37.1% from three in playoffs) could be the missing piece. Cap constraints are severe. Vegas would need to move a player like Kiah Stokes to make the math work.
Sky and Sun: The Ultimate 2026 Deadline Winners
The Sky win by selling high. Diggins has one year left on her contract. Letting her walk for nothing in free agency would be a front-office failure. Chicago can acquire young assets — a first-round pick swap or a developmental guard — to rebuild around Marina Mabrey.
The Sun win by buying low. Diggins’ trade value has cratered due to the role conflict. Connecticut gets a proven playoff performer at a discount. The Sun are 18-8, second in the Eastern Conference. Adding Diggins pushes them past the New York Liberty in title odds.
Other sellers: the Los Angeles Sparks (8-16) and Phoenix Mercury (10-14) are also listening on veterans like Brittney Griner and Kelsey Plum. Neither offers the upside of the Diggins deal. The Sky-Sun dynamic is the story.
10 WNBA Trade Candidates for 2026: Where Diggins Ranks
Diggins is the headliner. The July 10 trade candidate list from For The Win ranks her as a top-3 asset despite her role issues. Other names: Griner, Plum, Satou Sabally, Diamond DeShields, and Natasha Howard.
| Player | Position | 2026 PPG | Trade Value (1-10) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skylar Diggins | G | 9.8 | 7 |
| Brittney Griner | C | 17.2 | 9 |
| Kelsey Plum | G | 15.1 | 8 |
| Satou Sabally | F | 14.6 | 8 |
| Diamond DeShields | G/F | 11.3 | 6 |
Cap mechanics complicate any deal. WNBA salary cap is $1.5 million per team. Diggins earns $215,000. The Sun have $340,000 in cap room. A straight swap is feasible. A three-team deal involving the Sky, Sun, and a third party is more likely.
Prediction: Diggins to the Sun before the deadline. The fit, the price, and the timing align. Connecticut becomes the clear winner.
Legacy and Playoff Implications
A move to the Sun revives Diggins’ reputation. She is a five-time All-Star and 2022 champion. Another deep playoff run solidifies her as a top-15 player in league history. Without a trade, her legacy risks being defined by a bench role and a social media meltdown.
The Sun, with Diggins, become the betting favorite over the Aces. Their defensive backbone remains intact. Her offensive creation unlocks a new dimension. Fan reaction on social media is split — some see a desperate move, others a masterstroke.
The Skylar Diggins trade is a defining moment of the 2026 WNBA season. The Chicago Sky and Connecticut Sun are positioned as winners. Execution is now the only variable.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: Why is Skylar Diggins being traded?
- A: Diggins forced a trade after a public social media outburst over her bench role. Her scoring has dropped 4.2 points from her 2024 All-Star season, and the Sky, sitting at 12-14, see little reason to keep a disgruntled veteran.
- Q: Which team is the likely winner of the Diggins trade?
- A: The Connecticut Sun are the likely winners. They need a veteran playmaker alongside Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner, and their league-best defensive rating can mask Diggins’ declining lateral quickness. The trade would cost a future second-round pick and salary filler.
- Q: What are the other potential trade destinations for Skylar Diggins?
- A: Two other destinations are the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces. The Liberty have cap space and need bench scoring, while the Aces seek a third title and could use Diggins’ clutch playoff shooting, though cap constraints are severe.
Extended Reading
Data and analysis sourced from SI.com, Yahoo Sports, and For The Win. Trade mechanics verified against WNBA salary cap rules. All statistics current as of July 12, 2026.