After a standout 2017 season, where she averaged 18.5 points, 5.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game and appeared on the All-WNBA First Team, Skylar Diggins picked up right where she left off in the following 2018 season.
Specifically, Diggins averaged 17.9 points, 6.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, earning her an All-Star nod and an All-WNBA Second Team selection. Alongside her spectacular performance, Skylar led the Dallas Wings to the playoffs as an eight seed, but ultimately lost to the fifth-seeded Phoenix Mercury in the single-elimination First Round, 101-83.
Despite the loss and early playoff exit, Diggins still showed out with a team-high 23 points, giving everything she could to get Dallas the win. Not long after, in October 2018, the Wings guard publicly disclosed that she was pregnant, had played the entire 2018 season through it, and was scheduled to give birth in April 2019, making her campaign even more impressive.
However, Diggins wasn't impressed with the way her franchise treated her throughout the process.
As a result of giving birth to her son, Skylar missed the entire 2019 season, and would call out the Wings franchise for a lack of organizational support during and after her pregnancy, which led to postpartum depression.
"Having no support from your own organization is unfortunate," said Diggins. "The blasts that disrespect of mothers (and our rights) in the WNBA is incredible. I can't wait until you hear my story FROM ME!"
"People called me a quitter, said I gave up on my team, etc., etc. Not knowing I took two FULL months away from everything because of postpartum depression. With limited resources to help me be successful mentally/physically. But just wait though….KEEP THAT SAME ENERGY."
"I played the ENTIRE season pregnant last year! All-star, and led league (top 3-5) in MPG… didn't tell a soul."
Skylar "didn't tell a soul" about her pregnancy to avoid the WNBA's old Collective Bargaining Agreement rule that pregnant players were only guaranteed 50 percent of their salary. However, the Wings organization opted to pay her entire salary despite missing the entire 2019 season.
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As her story gained traction, Diggins was keen on driving major improvements to maternal rights in the WNBA's new CBA, which was finalized in 2020.
Crucially, aside from establishing a full salary in the new CBA, players with children now earn a guaranteed two-bedroom apartment as opposed to standard player housing in the pre-2020 CBA. With that, players with children earn $5,000 in child support, which wasn't provided before.
In the old CBA, players didn't receive compensation for family planning or nursing accommodations, but that changed with Diggins' advocacy. From 2020, athletes earn up to $20,000 for adoption, surrogacy, and fertility treatments, with dedicated private rooms for nursing mothers at games.
By choosing to step up for her well-being and express her struggle out loud, Diggins changed the landscape of the WNBA forever. Before, players felt penalized for wanting to establish a family. Now, the league has accommodated its workplace for them as both professional athletes and mothers.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Oct 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
