Skylar Diggins is the master of a beautiful brand of basketball. She does everything that might not be perfect on the stats board, but she carries the intent. For some, including Napheesa Collier, she is “the most competitive player.” So, those 7 All-Star nods and 4 First-Team selections did not just come by. 

Over a decade in, Diggins has carved out a very successful career. As she continues to lead the Seattle Storm offensively, making yet another All-Star appearance, here’s a little background on the star guard. 

Who is Skylar Diggins’ Father?

Skylar Diggins-Smith’s biological father, Tige Diggins, has been a steady and supportive force throughout her life. A proud dad, Tige stood by Skylar through her triumphs and trials, playing a quiet but meaningful role in shaping her journey.

Although Tige and Skylar’s mother, Renee Scott, eventually parted ways after years of marriage, they remained united in one crucial mission: raising their daughter with love and mutual respect. Their separation left a lasting impact on Skylar, something she bravely shared in her children’s book, The Middle School Rules of Skylar Diggins.

“I talked about my parents separating and my dad moving away… Some tough times in my life… hurdles you have to overcome, and lessons you learn from each stage,” she said, opening up about her struggles with loss, bullying, and change during her formative years. Despite the distance and change, Tige continued to show up in her story.

Who is Skylar Diggins’ Mother?

Skylar Diggins’ mother is Renee Scott. When asked where Skylar gets her model-type looks from, Diggins simply points to her mother. “She’s the beautiful one — all 5 foot nothin’, 100 and nothin’,” she says. “I’m just the poor man’s version of her.” But that is not all that describes Diggins’ mother. 

“Mom was mom, she was not your friend,” her husband, Maurice Scott, says. “Mom had strict rules including an 11 p.m. curfew her senior year of high school, a signed contract prohibiting anyone else from driving her car, and a ban on the word ‘can’t.’ Skylar never had any trouble following them,” Scott says

It is this discipline that prompted Skylar to be the ball player she is today. And it also helped her level up throughout her career. While she might not have to follow the same rules today, she needs to be disciplined in different ways. Even when Renee was strict, Skylar understood that it was for her own good, and their bond has sustained to date.

She says, “If it wasn’t for my mom, I am absolutely positive, I would have gone crazy.”

Who is Skylar Diggins’ Step Father? 

After parting ways with Tige Diggins, Renee Scott married Maurice Scott, who became more than just a stepfather to Skylar; he became one of her greatest influences. Maurice was a constant presence throughout her childhood, both at home and on the court. As the director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center in South Bend, a vital community space for recreation and education, Scott not only coached young athletes but helped shape Skylar into the fierce competitor and leader she is today. The dynamic in their household was simple: Renee was the ‘education officer’ while Scott was the ‘basketball head’. 

“Renee raised the academic bar and I raised the athletic bar,” Scott says. “No matter how high, Skylar exceeded them.”

Back when Skylar was just a girl with big dreams and a killer crossover, Scott would joke with her about one day having a commercial like Michael Jordan’s iconic “Be Like Mike” ad. “I want to be like Sky. Sky’s the limit,” he’d say, grinning. “We’d laugh about it.”

And he was right. Skylar Diggins-Smith went on to live that dream, becoming an Olympic gold medalist, a 7-time WNBA All-Star, and one of the most electrifying players women’s basketball has ever seen.