Skylar Diggins Arrives in Chicago and the Sky's Rebuild Starts Saturday Against Portland

The Chicago Sky are heading to Portland on Saturday night for their season opener against the expansion Fire, and they're bringing some serious star power with them. Seven-time All-Star Skylar Diggins, fresh off averaging 15.5 points and 6.0 assists with the Seattle Storm last season, is the headliner in a complete roster overhaul after Chicago tied for the league low with just 10 wins last year.

A Guard-Heavy Gamble That Could Pay Off

Chicago went all in on backcourt depth this offseason. Beyond landing the 35-year-old Diggins, the Sky added Natasha Cloud, DiJonai Carrington, and Jacy Sheldon in free agency, then drafted UCLA's Gabriela Jaquez in the first round. They also picked up Rickea Jackson and Azura Stevens to shore up the frontcourt.

Sky coach Tyler Marsh isn't sweating the guard-heavy roster construction. "I don't think you can go wrong with a lot of good guards, capable guards," Marsh said this week. "It's not like we're just stock holding a bunch of players. It's players that can contribute and we're going to find ways to utilize them."

Diggins will be crucial early. Star point guard Courtney Vandersloot, a five-time All-Star, is still rehabbing from an ACL tear she suffered last June. Carrington (foot) and Stevens (knee) are also sidelined to start the season. Chicago won't even play at home until May 20 against the Dallas Wings as they open with a four-game road trip.

Portland's Defense-First Foundation Takes Shape

The Fire are kicking off their expansion season with four straight home games, including back-to-back matchups against the New York Liberty and a game versus the Connecticut Sun. Coach Alex Sarama, 30, is laser-focused on building the team around elite defense.

"I feel in a pretty good place with where our defense is at," Sarama told reporters. "The offense is gonna take a little longer. Just a new system, players doing a good job getting used to it."

Portland selected forward Bridget Carleton from Minnesota with the first expansion draft pick and added guards Carla Leite and Sarah Ashlee Barker, plus guard-forward Haley Jones. Barker is all in on the grind. "I think every single day you can tell that, one, we come in and we work really hard no matter what," she said. "When people make mistakes, we pick each other up. There's a lot of effort and energy, and you can't teach effort and energy."

This marks the second chapter for Portland in the WNBA. The original Fire operated from 2000-02 before folding. Saturday's opener tips off a crucial first night for the expansion franchise.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.