PHOENIX — Tension appears to be brewing on the Sky.
Point guard Skylar Diggins posted an Instagram story that read: “Now I’m coming off the bench?????? Cool.”
She followed with a video, saying: “And the crazy part about it is that I’ve been quiet. I’ve been so good and quiet. I’ve been so good and quiet.”
The Sky are preparing to play the Mercury on Tuesday in the second game of a four-game road trip.
Diggins has started every game she has played this season, but she hasn’t hidden her frustration with how the year has unfolded. The Sky are 6-14 and lost leading scorer Rickea Jackson to a torn ACL four games into the season.
Diggins called out the team after an ugly loss to the Tempo in June, saying it needed more maturity and leadership — including from the coaching staff. Asked whether she and coach Tyler Marsh were on the same page, she said that if there were a problem, she would come out and say it.
Diggins is averaging 14.2 points and 4.9 assists per game, down slightly from 15.5 points and six assists last season. She has carried a heavy minutes load all year, and the team has said it wants to ease that burden. Veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot recently returned from injury on a minutes restriction and has played well, and Natasha Cloud, another veteran point guard, remains a key piece of the rotation.
The Sky entered the season confident they could manage a rotation of veteran point guards.
Looks like the rubber is now hitting the road.
This story will be updated.