Skylar Diggins-Smith Says She Isn’t Allowed to Use Phoenix Mercury’s Facilities or Resources While on Maternity Leave

The WNBA player welcomed her second child in May.

Skylar Diggins-Smith.ABC/Getty Images

Mercury guard Skylar Diggins-Smith is speaking up on Twitter about her experience with the team’s maternity leave rules. After fans noticed that the team’s social media accounts failed to wish the 33-year-old happy birthday on Aug. 2, the WNBA player revealed that she hasn’t been allowed to use any of the facilities or resources while on maternity leave.

The 2014 SI Swimsuit model and her husband, former Notre Dame football player Daniel Smith, are parents to a 4-year-old son Seven and just welcomed their baby girl in May. Diggins-Smith, who was nominated for best WNBA player at the 2023 ESPY Awards, and Smith tied the knot in 2017.

They’re not gonna acknowledge me this year and it’s ok guys. We’re not affiliated unless it’s the checks….per management. I can’t even use the practice facility or any resources. But I still love the X-Factor!! https://t.co/lcDb05fVVg

— Skylar Diggins-Smith (@SkyDigg4) August 3, 2023

“They’re not gonna acknowledge me this year and it’s OK guys. We’re not affiliated unless it’s the checks....per management. I can’t even use the practice facility or any resources,” she tweeted, and added in a separate post, “Sadly, no …or any massage therapists, chiropractor, chefs, strength and conditioning, nutritionist accessibility, etc… [that] EVERY other player has access to. However I’m still down 48 lbs on my own and I’m feeling great!”

Sadly, no…or any massage therapists, chiropractor, chefs, strength and conditioning, nutritionist accessibility, etc… they EVERY other player has access to.
However I’m still down 48lbs on my own and I’m feeling great! 💪🏽 https://t.co/rRkJpIxysF

— Skylar Diggins-Smith (@SkyDigg4) August 3, 2023

The Indiana native famously played the entire 2018 basketball season while pregnant with her first child. She opened up about balancing motherhood and being a professional athlete, the pressure to “bounce back,” and how she learned to be strong because of the women who raised her.

“My granny always says when I talk to her, she’s 87, but she still tells me to this day, ‘I love you, everything is everything and follow your dreams.’ I guess it created this belief around myself that I really could do anything,” she said. “I always knew that I wanted a kid while I was playing because I want my kids to see me play. I think that that stuff is intangible, you know. When they see you really going after your dreams. Your body changes and everybody carries differently. You just have to really sit back and realize what you’ve done, what your body has done. Give your body time to heal, give your body time to recover, give yourself grace during this time. It’s a process.””

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