Skylar Diggins-Smith

Skylar Diggins-Smith earned her way into the top 10 of WNBA players this season after a remarkable campaign in 2024. She scored 15.1 points a night in addition to her 6.4 assists, 2.9 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 0.9 blocks. To put that into perspective, among all WNBA players she was 14th in total points, fourth in assists, third in steals, and 12th in blocks. She was top 15 in four major statistical categories and top five in two, which is why she is so high on this list. Her impact goes far beyond the stat sheet as well, as she and Nneka Ogwumike revitalized a suffering Seattle Storm team this season and brought them back to the playoffs, where they belong.

The thing that people will remember most, however, about Diggins-Smith’s 2024 season a decade from now is not her string of incredible performances. But they will remember the fact that she reached new heights in her career and she did so after missing the entire 2023 WNBA season due to maternity. To spend an entire year away from the game and not skip a beat when returning is truly remarkable; it cannot be said enough how impressive this feat is.

Part of what makes Diggins-Smith so unique is not just that she bounced back from her 2023 maternity leave, but the fact that she has done so now twice in her career, and it is yet to slow her down. Not only does it not inhibit her ability to be a part of a team, but it cannot slow her down physically or statistically. This season she looked as quick as she ever has, and she set career highs in both assists and steals per game. This is not the typical journey for a woman who has missed two entire seasons, but Skylar Diggins-Smith has never been typical. The former third-round pick has stood the test of time in the W, and seemingly nothing can stop her.