One of the most iconic names in the basketball community is headed to the Valley. On the court, she’s a four-time WNBA All-Star, three-time All-WNBA Team member and 2014 WNBA Most Improved Player. Off the court, she’s a fitness and fashion icon and a staple to women across the country. The Phoenix Mercury are excited to announce the addition of Skylar Diggins-Smith to the Mercury family.
The Mercury send 2020 fifth pick, 2020 seventh pick (via Seattle) and a future first round pick to Dallas.
As a 5’9” guard, Diggins-Smith is a do-it-all playmaker, ranking in the top-10 in scoring, assists and total steals in a season three times throughout her WNBA career, (2014, 2017, 2018). Since being drafted in 2013 by the Tulsa Shock, the former Notre Dame standout is one of only two players in the league to rank in the top-10 in both scoring and assists in the same season at least three times (2014, 2017, 2018), joining new teammate Diana Taurasi (four times – 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018).
Diggins-Smith teams up with Mercury center Brittney Griner as now two of the three top picks from the 2013 WNBA Draft reside in Phoenix.
4x WNBA All-Star | 3x All-WNBA | 2014 WNBA Most Improved Player
Up to the 2019 season, the savvy point guard averaged 17.9 points, a career-high 6.2 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 32 games during the 2018 season with Dallas. She became just the third player in WNBA history to average at least 17 points and six assists per game in a season (Taurasi – 2013; Candace Parker – 2015), leading to her fourth WNBA All-Star selection, All-WNBA Second Team honors and guided the Wings to their second consecutive postseason appearance.
Entering the 2020 season with 2,670 career points, 826 assists and 225 steals, Diggins-Smith is on pace to become the 19th player in WNBA history to reach 3,000 career points, 1,000 assists and 200 steals this summer. She would join Taurasi, Sue Bird, Candace Parker, Kristi Toliver and Renee Montgomery as the only active players to have achieved the milestone and could become the only player on the full list to have done so in less than 200 career games (has played 168 career games).
Originally the third overall pick of the 2013 WNBA Draft by the Tulsa Shock, Diggins-Smith was a four-year standout at Notre Dame where she went on to become a three-time All-American. The first player in program history to reach 2,000 points, 500 assists and 500 rebounds in a career, she finished her collegiate career as the program’s all-time leader in scoring and steals, and ranked number two in assists. Diggins-Smith led the Fighting Irish to back-to-back NCAA title game appearances in 2011 and 2012 and was awarded the Nancy Lieberman award in both her junior and senior seasons as the nation’s top point guard.
Professional basketball returns to The Madhouse May 2020 as the Phoenix Mercury bring their quest for a record-tying fourth WNBA Championship to Veterans Memorial Coliseum, the original home of the Phoenix Suns. Join superstars Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, Skylar Diggins-Smith and the X-Factor at one of basketball’s loudest venues.
Tickets for Fry’s Food Stores Opening Night on Sunday, May 17, can be purchased by calling 602.252.WNBA or by visiting Ticketmaster.
The Dallas Wings have signed and traded Skylar Diggins-Smith to the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for the No. 5 and 7 picks in the 2020 WNBA Draft as well as Phoenix’s first round selection in the 2021 WNBA Draft, the team announced today. The Wings then sent the 2021 first round pick the team acquired in the deal with Phoenix to the Chicago Sky in exchange for Astou Ndour.
Ndour, a 6-foot-5-inch center, averaged 6.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game while shooting a career-best 49.2 percent from the floor and 42.4 percent from the three-point line during the 2019 WNBA season. Ndour collected seven double-digit scoring games last season, dropping 18 points twice, and tallied three double-doubles. In 2019, she established career-high marks in rebounds (10), offensive rebounds (6), defensive rebounds (8), assists (3), steals (3), field goals made (7) and minutes played (35). Ndour averaged 25.4 minutes per game in the 2019 playoffs, registering 16 points, nine rebounds and two steals in a first-round victory over the Phoenix Mercury and logging 17 points, eight rebounds and a block in the Sky’s second-round loss to Las Vegas.
Currently playing for Dynamo Kursk, Ndour is averaging 9.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Internationally, Ndour is a member of the Spanish National Team, claiming a silver medal in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, a bronze medal in the 2018 World Cup and a gold medal in EuroBasket 2019. Helping Spain go 6-0 in EuroBasket, Ndour was named to the all-tournament team and MVP after averaging 14.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per contest.
“We are thrilled to add Astou to the Dallas Wings organization,” stated Wings President and CEO Greg Bibb. “Astou has great range that extends beyond the three-point line, she runs the floor well and is a fantastic rim protector. We are excited to have her join our roster.”
“We are excited about the addition of Astou,” said head coach Brian Agler. “I’ve watched her before her WNBA days and of course while coaching against her. She’s an extremely versatile player both offensively and defensively. Astou is also a very mobile stretch post player. She keeps improving because of her skill set and her work ethic.”
Diggins-Smith was selected third overall in the 2013 draft by the Tulsa Shock. The four-time All-Star appeared in 168 career games with the Shock and Wings while averaging 15.9 points and 4.9 assists per outing.
“We appreciate all that Skylar Diggins-Smith has done for our organization and our community,” Bibb stated. We wish her and her family well in Phoenix and with all of their future endeavors.”
The Wings now hold picks No. 2, 5, 7, 9, 15 and 21 in the 2020 WNBA Draft.
