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Star breakdown: When Skylar Diggins-Smith faced Jewell Loyd

By Jasmine Baker

WHITE PLAINS, NY - MAY 29: Skylar Diggins-Smith #4 of the Dallas Wings talks to her team during the game against the New York Liberty on May 29, 2018 at Westchester County Center in White Plains, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Steve Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images)
WHITE PLAINS, NY - MAY 29: Skylar Diggins-Smith #4 of the Dallas Wings talks to her team during the game against the New York Liberty on May 29, 2018 at Westchester County Center in White Plains, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Steve Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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DALLAS — After the Dallas Wings (3-3) blew a 17-point lead for a loss at New York, Skylar Diggins-Smith tweeted, “Gotta step my game up. No excuses.” On Saturday against Seattle, she proved it against one of the league’s best guards.

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The matchup against two of top guards in the league, Diggins-Smith and Jewell Loyd, proved definitional for the game, a 94-90 win for the Wings, but that was no surprise. The former Notre Dame guards came in Saturday’s game averaging 22.5 (Loyd) and 19.8 (Diggins-Smith).

“Jewell is player who creates her own shots like a Kobe Bryant-type player,” Wings head coach Fred Williams told High Post Hoops. “You have to stay in front of her and not let her get loose to the rim. Transition is where you want to try to contain her, but Jewell is going to get her points. You have to limit her penetrating and getting and-1’s.”

With Seattle missing Sue Bird, rookie guard Jordin Canada made her first career start. In the process she became the second Storm rookie (Breanna Stewart, 2016) in franchise history to nab four or more steals in at least two games in a single season. She was also given the task most of the game to guard Diggins-Smith. Despite her five steals (franchise rookie record), Canada didn’t have an answer for Diggins-Smith who had 14 points and 3 assists in the first quarter alone.

ARLINGTON, TX – JUNE 2: Jewell Loyd #24 of the Seattle Storm handles the ball against Skylar Diggins-Smith #4 of the Dallas Wings on June 2, 2018 at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photos by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – JUNE 2: Jewell Loyd #24 of the Seattle Storm handles the ball against Skylar Diggins-Smith #4 of the Dallas Wings on June 2, 2018 at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photos by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /

“For us defensively, we try to cut the head off, get to Skylar, be aggressive on her, make her give the ball up,” said Loyd. “She kind of disrupted us early, and our start was pretty slow. For them, I mean, we just didn’t make shots. The shots that we normally make.”

Diggins-Smith finished the first half perfect from the field and free-throw line with 20 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists. In contrast, Loyd finished the first half with only 8 points, scoring only 2 of those points in the second quarter, no assists or rebounds.

“I’m well aware of her game and what she likes to do but it was a team effort in stopping her (Loyd). She’s a great player, I got the switch on her at game time with Bird out,” said Diggins-Smith. “She’s been shooting a great percentage from the 3 point line, but we tried to make her take tough ones.”

Dallas scored just 11 points in the third quarter, allowing Seattle back into the game, in part thanks to Seattle head coach Dan Hughes deciding to go big defensively on Diggins-Smith, putting the 5’11 Alysha Clark on the all star Dallas guard.

“I thought defensively, we got way better in the third quarter,” Hughes said following the game, “I thought Clark going onto Diggins-Smith, she really played well, but at least I felt like we were competing with her.”

Loyd saw her 20-point streak snap at five games. She finished with 16 points, 5-for-17 shooting, 3 rebounds and 1 assist.

“This is the first year I feel like we have expectations, with us being short players, I’m trying to be a leader for this team,” said Diggins-Smith. “This is the best team I’ve ever played with, college or pros, our potential is even higher now.”

Diggins-Smith getting the best of the league’s stars, such as Loyd, reflects not just that potential, but the results.

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