Skylar Diggins-Smith, Vanessa Nygaard.Photo: Ned Dishman/NBAE/Getty; Chris Coduto/Getty
The heat is rising betweenPhoenix Mercurycoach Vanessa Nygaard and her guardSkylar Diggins-Smithover this year’sWNBA All-Starselections.
Diggins-Smith, 31, earned her sixth all-star selection this year. The Indiana native will get the start in the league’s All-Star game on July 10 in Chicago.
Other starters in the 2022 WNBA All-Star Game includeCandace Parker,Breanna Stewart,A’ja Wilson, andNneka Ogwumike, among others. One name noticeably absent from the 2022 list, however, is ten-time all-star and Diggins-Smith’s teammate,Diana Taurasi.
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Nygaardvery publicly disagreedwith Taurasi’s snub, saying in a media appearance that “there will be a game in Chicago, but it will not be an All-Star Game because Diana Taurasi is not there.”
The Phoenix Mercury did not reply to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
via Skylar Diggins-Smith on Twitter.Skylar Diggins Smith/Twitter
Diggins-Smith and Taurasi made headlines earlier this season when the two Phoenix Mercury stars had to beseparated after a scuffle on the benchduring a game.
Diggins-Smith was sitting at the end of the bench during a team huddle when she became visibly frustrated and stood up, moving towards Taurasi, 39, while they exchanged words.
Taurasi then stood up, prompting teammates and coaches to separate the two before the encounter turned physical. The incident — which was caught on thegame’s broadcast— sparked questions over the team’s chemistry off the court.
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Diggins-Smith is averaging 18.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists on the season, making her one of the WNBA’s brightest stars.
Diggins-Smith and the Phoenix Mercury will travel to Chicago to take on Candace Parker and theSky on Saturday July 2.
source: people.com
