We spoke with Skylar Diggins at the end of last year and she had a TON of great things going on. Three months later…she still has a TON of wonderful things going on. We’re still not sure how this lady manages to execute so many things and do it so well, but she does. Check out what’s been going on with Skylar as she gets ready for the start of the 2017 WNBA season.
Last time we chatted you were gearing up for the 2017 Allstate WBCA Good Works Team®. Now the Team has been selected. Can you tell us about some of the ladies who made the team?
It’s a great group of ladies and I’ll be joining them on court at the Final Four in Dallas tonight where they’ll be recognized. On Sunday we’ll be visiting Cook Children’s Medical in Fort Worth, TX. All of the ladies have been showing the initiative and giving back to communities in the US and abroad. There are so many great women and I can’t wait to meet them.
They appear to be a diverse group. Why is that important?
The diversity of the team allows women who many not have the opportunity to play or get recognized on a large stage, to get that recognition they deserve despite being at smaller programs. It’s a great opportunity for them to be honored for the work in the community and for their dedication to helping others.
What does it mean for you to be a part of the Allstate Good Works Team®?
It’s awesome because, as I shared back in December, I can identify with these ladies. I was once a student-ahtlete and I understand the demands of that life. I know how hard it is to struggle to manage it all. For these ladies to handle all of that and to work in the community is really special. It’s been amazing to be a part of. These ladies are an inspiration.
Skylar with her 11-12 year old AAU team shooting promos for Little Ballers Indiana
So what else is new?
Outside of training, my Shoot 4 the Sky camps have been taking the most of my time. We are on our eighth camp of the year. We’ve been travelling around the country and working with kids ages 7-18. Last weekend we were in Tampa and this weekend we’ll be in Dallas for our last camp. Obviously wedding planning is also taking lots of time. It’s been fun. It’s a little stressful, but watching come together has been a lot of fun.
I also had the opportunity to participate, as Executive Producer, in the docuseries Little Ballers Indiana. I partnered with Crystal McCrary who spearheaded the first Little Ballers which featured her son. Crystal and Nickelodeon approached me about a version for females and I jumped at the opportunity. I had the perfect group of girls, my AAU team. The response has been amazing. What’s great about Little Ballers is that it doesn’t just touch on basketball. We talk about other things that young people might not be comfortable talking about like bullying, teasing, self esteem, body image and transitioning. I was blessed to be a part of it and I thank everyone involved for making it happen.
Tell us a little bit about your training and nutrition. How’s training coming along and what are some of your favorite healthy meals?
I’ve been training extensively on court and in the weight room. Training camp is right around the corner. We have a preseason game in less than a month, so I’m just fine tuning and getting ready for camp. I definitely have some go-to meals. I don’t like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen so all of my meals can be whipped up pretty quickly. For breakfast I like to make a three egg omelet with peppers, tomatoes, spinach and turkey bacon. It’s so simple. I love street tacos. So one of my favorites for lunch is tacos with ground turkey, onions, tomatoes and avocado on the top. They’re so easy. Finally, my go-to for dinner is salmon and asparagus. You can cook them in the same pan.
What’s it like having the off-season free instead of playing overseas?
I love basketball, but it’s not my only passion. It’s a blessing to have the ability to take advantage of other opportunities that allow me to engage in my passions outside of basketball. I have a great team at Roc Nation that helps me get it all done.
Lots of women in the WNBA play overseas during the off-season because the pay isn’t substantial enough. We just saw the women of USA Hockey get their due pay with a strike. What do you think it will take for the women in the WNBA to start to earn more?
I honestly don’t know. If I had the formula I would certainly share it. I do know that we play the game because we’re passionate about it. Everyday we’re fighting to prove why we’re the best in the world. Our product is the best it’s ever been and the League continues to improve. We’re very confident in our ability and everyday we have people who fight the women of the league to continue to make strides.
What are your goals for the upcoming season?
I want the team to make the playoffs. This will be my fifth year in the league so I’m exiting the rookie stage and I’m ready to take on more of a veteran role and to feel what the playoffs is like. I want the Dallas Wings to be in a position to compete for a Championship. That would be amazing. Personally, I want to be a leader for the team and to stay healthy so I can help take my team to the next level.
Please check our games out! The Dallas Wings’ season starts on May 13th. You can purchase tickets online and sign-up for live access.
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Thanks again for your time Skylar and good luck this season! Follow Skylar on Twitter and Instagram and be sure you’re following GladiatHers.com on Twitter and Instagram for regular updates on Skylar and lots of other GladiatHers®.
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