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The Seattle Storm announced the signing Thursday of six-time All-Star point guard Skylar Diggins-Smith.
The 33-year-old free agent returns to the WNBA after sitting out 2023 following the birth of her second child.
She has career averages of 16.7 points, 5.0 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 252 games (239 starts) over nine seasons with the Tulsa Shock/Dallas Wings (2013-18) and Phoenix Mercury (2020-22).
"I am beyond excited for the opportunity to coach Skylar, one of the best point guards in the history of our game," said Storm coach Noelle Quinn. "Skylar is an ultimate competitor, elite playmaker, and excellent defender. Adding Skylar to our dynamic backcourt will immediately elevate our roster as we continue this next chapter of Storm basketball."
Diggins-Smith has made six All-WNBA teams and was named the league's Most Improved Player in 2014.
She will be reunited in the backcourt with Storm star Jewell Loyd, her former teammate at Notre Dame.
"Joining the Seattle Storm is the ideal next step in my basketball journey. The organization's dedication to its players and the progression of the league is commendable," said Diggins-Smith. "I'm laser-focused for the upcoming season. Stepping onto the court alongside Jewell, benefiting from the leadership of Noelle Quinn and feeling the?energy of the?Seattle?Storm fans is a combination that I am confident will lead to success."
Diggins-Smith won an Olympic gold medal with Team USA at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
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NFL insider explains why Steelers changed their mind on Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Steelers are in desperate need of a starting quarterback for the 2025 season. The competition seems to be narrowing down to two veterans: Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers. Wilson, of course, is familiar with the Steelers after experiencing both highs and lows in 2024 when he took over for Justin Fields. Both quarterbacks are seeking hefty contracts, and this demand for a pricy payday has created a serious holdup in the Steelers' negotiations. When NFL insider Mike Florio appeared on 93.7 The Fan on Wednesday afternoon, he was directly asked why the Steelers suddenly changed their mind on Rodgers. Initially, Pittsburgh showed little to no interest in the veteran quarterback, but now it seems like both sides might need each other. Florio's response was particularly revealing, offering insight into how the Steelers' stance on Rodgers shifted dramatically. Florio explained that the Steelers' change of heart could be tied to a combination of factors, including the team's shifting priorities and Rodgers’ willingness to entertain the idea of playing in Pittsburgh. While the Steelers had reservations about bringing him in at first, the reality of their quarterback situation in 2025 has made Rodgers’ potential value to the team much more appealing. Florio's analysis suggests that the Steelers made a grave mistake with Fields and how they handled their quarterback situation. "I think that and look, they will never hold a press conference and answer all of the questions on how they ended up in the spot they are in," Florio said. "I think they thought they were going to be able to steal Justin Fields. I mean with Fields getting $20 million a year from the Jets, that is an embarrassing low starting quarterback number." Florio has long been a vocal advocate for Rodgers, arguing that the quarterback is worth at least $45 million a year. However, he recently expressed disbelief over Fields' contract with the Jets, which is reportedly only $20 million a year, calling it laughably low. Florio’s remarks suggest that the Steelers may have put themselves in a difficult position by attempting to "cheap out" on Fields, ultimately leading to the current quarterback dilemma. His perspective highlights how Pittsburgh's initial reluctance to invest in Fields may be coming back to haunt them now. "I think the primary goal was, and they admitted it, they wanna keep either Fields or Wilson, but they wanted to go cheap and I think they went too cheap with Fields, and it blew up in their faces," Florio speculated. "That is why someone woke up and said maybe we should go out and get Aaron Rodgers. The flaw in the thinking was people believing Rodgers would come cheap." When owner Art Rooney II, GM Omar Khan and HC Mike Tomlin addressed the quarterback situation, they all emphasized that they were open to a future with either Fields or Wilson in 2025. Some speculated whether they were simply saying that out of necessity or if they truly meant it. What seems more likely is that Pittsburgh didn't want to overpay for a quarterback. Steelers' Mike Tomlin thought he could get a discount with Justin Fields The Steelers reportedly offered Fields what they considered a fair contract, but he wasn't interested and chose to leave for the New York Jets. There was a belief, especially from Tomlin, that he might be able to land a "personal discount" given his reputation and the allure of playing for him. However, that strategy backfired, leaving the Steelers without a clear option for the 2025 season. Of course, that will soon change as the Steelers are poised to finalize a deal and determine their starting quarterback. However, they now find themselves in a much more desperate situation than they originally anticipated. The Steelers are quickly running out of leverage and need to find a solution. As it stands, overpaying for a 41-year-old quarterback in Rodgers may be their best, and perhaps only, option.
Canadiens Make Last-Minute Change for Florida Game That Speaks Volumes About St-Louis
The Montreal Canadiens organization announced a small change of plans for today in preparation for the game against the Florida Panthers. It might seem trivial, but I think it speaks volumes about Martin St-Louis and the fact that he truly cares about his players. Originally, the team was supposed to practice at 10:30 AM this morning. However, as Max Truman mentions, the players arrived relatively late last night, especially when considering the time zone difference, so it wasn't ideal for them to have to practice at 10:30 AM this morning in Brossard. Probably 90% of NHL head coaches wouldn't have cared about this and would have stuck to their schedule, but not Martin St-Louis. The Canadiens push back today's practice by 1.5 hours to allow players to get more rest As the excellent Stu Cowan mentions, practice will now be at noon! 'The Canadiens will practice at noon on Friday at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard, in preparation for Saturday's game against the Florida Panthers at the Bell Centre.' - Stu Cowan It's a nice little gesture from the organization and Martin St-Louis, which deserved to be highlighted here in my humble opinion. It's worth noting that the Habs will indeed face the Florida Panthers, who will be missing the services of defenseman Aaron Ekblad (suspension) and forward Matthew Tkachuk (injury), starting tomorrow live from the Bell Centre. It will be a very big game for the Canadiens.
Toronto Maple Leafs Have a Serious Problem They Can't Ignore Anymore
The Toronto Maple Leafs are making a solid, though inconsistent push for a deep playoff run but one concerning factor needs to change if they want to succeed. It's not a good thing when you're 17 games away from the playoffs and there are still come major concerns about your offensive production. When led by a team of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander aren't coming out with an explosion of offence it starts to get worrying. The team has relied heavily on the 'Core Four' for the majority of their offensive outbursts in recent seasons, but they've had a bit of trouble scoring, at least at the rate they should. William Nylander has 36 goals, John Tavares has 27, Auston Matthews with 23, and Mitch Marner with 21. That's first, second, fourth and fifth in team scoring (goals) which isn't a good look for the bottom half (though that's an issue all season) but Matthews had 69 last season. Is he dealing with an injury? Has he lost his touch? No clue, but something isn't clicking with the captain. Yes he missed 15 games this season with injuries but at the end of the day, he needs to produce more and if he's hurt; get it looked at BEFORE the playoffs. Also, we're tired of the same stuff not working. What's the definition of insanity? Toronto needs to split up their roster. Mitch Marner deserves to run his own line, as does Auston Matthews and John Tavares. William Nylander is a much better one on one option and can fit in about any situation (except with Tavares, it's time to end that). Here's how the Maple Leafs could balance things out a bit more: Knies - Matthews - Domi Nylander - Laughton - Marner McMann - Tavares - Jarnkrok Lorentz - Kampf - Robertson Yes, it looks weird, it looks disjointed, but humor this lineup for a moment. Max Domi has historically played well with Auston Matthews, and gives him a reason to get the ball rolling (if he does what he did Thursday, that's huge) and gives them a chance to rekindle that chemistry. Scott Laughton bumps up to 2C alongside Marner and Nylander to provide a hybrid line of standout defense and incredible offense. Marner and Laughton are both playmakers, we know what Nylander can do, and the team's defense can allow the Swede to get more of his beloved breakaways. John Tavares gets a bit less pressure on his shoulders, and can bring a huge offensive punch to the bottom half of the lineup. He and Bobby McMann work well together, and Calle Jarnkrok is great defensively and provides some secondary offense as well. Nick Robertson hits the fourth line as the sparkplug alongside the rough and tumble Lorentz and the defensively minded Kampf. Each line can do damage, with a playmaker and scorer on each line. There's respectable to very solid defense throughout, and it allows a better flow come playoff time. These things will both allow Toronto to balance the lineup more, and give the 'Core Four' more of an opportunity to shine in their own ways. Bunching it all up hasn't worked. If they spread things a little thinner, maybe things will last longer in the postseason.
Charles Barkley Reveals Bold Prediction About LeBron James' Future
Charles Barkley, never one to shy away from controversy, recently offered a bold take on LeBron James during TNT's "Inside the NBA." During the Lakers ' playoff push, Barkley's comments focused on James' current injury situation and strategic decisions. "He wasn't going to play, anyway," Barkley said. "He stayed in New York because it was New York. He didn't want to go to Milwaukee because it's Milwaukee. That's why he flew back home." Barkley's critique came as James continues to recover from a left groin strain, which he sustained during a game against the Boston Celtics. The injury has sidelined the 40-year-old Lakers star, leaving fans eager for updates on his return. Despite optimism about James' condition, his agent Rich Paul has said there's no fixed timeline, emphasizing that "LeBron knows his body better than anybody." "The man stayed in New York because it's New York," Barkley asserted. "He wasn't going to Milwaukee for any reason. That's why he flew home, this ain't about the injury." The Lakers, currently in fourth place in the Western Conference, face mounting pressure to maintain their playoff position. With James averaging 25 points, 8.5 assists, and 8.2 rebounds this season, his absence presents a significant challenge. As the team adapts to playing without their star, the spotlight intensifies on how they will fare amid Barkley's blunt critique and the uncertainty surrounding James' return.
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