The Chicago Sky’s decision to bench their veteran guard Skylar Diggins has blindsided the 35-year-old. “Now I’m coming off the bench?????? Cool,” Diggins posted on Instagram on July 6. WNBA analysts Alicia Jay and Erica L. Ayala revealed they had pretty much the same reaction to the news on their podcast, especially with how the Sky has been performing.

“Absolutely a starter in this league. And so when I see her or when we see her make, you know, these statements on her Instagram, I can’t help but to just be like, ‘This is more of the same for the Chicago Sky.’ They cannot get it together. The foundation is not strong, and we keep seeing these cracks,” Jay said on the latest episode of the ‘We Need To Talk’ podcast.

“Literally the only question I have right now is, ‘Why?’ This is very shocking to me that, given what we know, given how the Sky have been performing, given how Skylar has been performing for the Sky. I just don’t understand,” added her co-host Erica L. Ayala.

In her statement, Ayala highlighted how the Chicago Sky is not in a good position right now. They are currently second-to-last in the league standings with a 6-17 record, above only the Connecticut Sun, and the season is slipping away.

They find themselves in such a position despite rebuilding the roster in the offseason, when Skylar Diggins also joined the team. In Rickea Jackson’s absence, Diggins has been the consistent performer.

Diggins has started all 19 games, averaging 14.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.9 assists, while shooting 39.2% from the field. She is also the team’s third-highest scorer and leads them in assists and steals.

However, coach Tyler Marsh has refused to elaborate on why he made the move. “It’s my decision, and the conversations that me and Skylar had will stay between us,” Marsh said to the media after team practice on July 6.

However, Jay believes that isn’t the right move given how disgruntled players have eventually left the team. They have had notable players like Angel Reese, Marina Mabrey and Kahleah Copper previously voice their concerns regarding team management and leadership. Reese was the most recent of these stars to leave the Sky after the 2025 season.

Diggins has also asked some tough questions as recently as last month. “We gotta have more maturity and more leadership on and off the floor… If it was just versus one team, I’d understand that, but now it’s been struggles,” she said when the Sky were 4-7.

Now with a far worse record, neither Alicia Jay nor Erica L. Ayala believes benching Skylar Diggins was the right move.