close
close

topicnews · July 20, 2025

Indiana Miss Basketball winner Skylar Diggins, Jackie Young Home for WNBA All-Star game

Indiana Miss Basketball winner Skylar Diggins, Jackie Young Home for WNBA All-Star game


play

Indianapolis-Seattle Storm Point Guard Skylar Diggins called it a full moment. The same applies to the Las Vegas Aces Point Guard Jackie Young.

Diggins led to an IHSAA Class 3a State Championship in an IHSAA Class 3a State Championship in 2007 in 2007, took her four-year career career on the list of all times of the state (2,790) and won the Indystar Miss-Basketball in 2009.

Young, an alum in Princeton Community and the Indystar Miss Basketball 2016, holds the state's record of the state (3,268) and led the tigers to 53 consecutive victories and the State Championship in class 3a 2015.

Two Indiana basketball legends are back in their home country as 2025 WNBA all-stars.

In 49 other countries it is only basketball, but that's Indiana, as the saying says. And it really doesn't get much Indiana than that.

“It is very special, we are both from Indiana, have this moment here, has this opportunity,” said Young. “Being an all-star in Indiana and being from Indiana is particularly special. I just took everything this weekend and I have a lot of fun experiencing it with my friends and family-and I'm looking forward to playing.”

“I spent a lot of time here in Indianapolis and have already seen many familiar faces,” added Diggins, whose family from South Bend will be one of those who are on the go for the game on Saturday. “My children are happy to be here and what better place to organize it than Indiana?”

For Diggins, this year's event made it even more unforgettable that their children are present. The seven-time WNBA All-Star joked instead of telling them how it was “back then” that they will be able to experience it first-hand. “It's a big deal.”

“I don't take it for granted,” added Diggins later. “It's incredible.”

The return to Indiana, especially the massive photos of her (and the other WNBA All-Stars) in the city, no less expected.

“I think I didn't know better,” said Diggins about the uniqueness of Indiana Basketball.

“This is Indiana. It is basketball. Hoosier hysteria is real,” she smiled. “From the moment you can get up, put a ball in your hands, but it is inside, outside, outside, 3-against-3, 5-to-5. I always grew up with the game. It is the accessible sport. It is a culture that comes with the basketball game in Indiana.

Young has never moved far from her roots from the small town, and her trip to Indiana contained a return to Princeton as mostly.

On Thursday she visited the recently opened Princeton Ymca (in her old primary school), where she was held a youth basketball camp and honored with a mural that recognized her career in Princeton High, Notre Dame and Las Vegas.

“This is a small city, so we never thought that a YMCA would actually open. And a murals in the gym is something very special,” said Young. “I spent a lot of time growing up in Princeton and playing basketball in Princeton. I am only happy for the younger generation that they will have more opportunities than I grew up.”

Young's appearance in Princeton came for a few hours after announcing a new partnership with Skechers. Oung said it was important for her to work with a brand that enables her to “stay true to herself”. For this purpose, as part of the celebrations of the day, they spent shoes on the basketball teams of the Tigers' Middle School and the High School Girls. (Young promised that she would also connect the boys' team.)

“They allow me to do things that I want to do, and that gives my community (and) back to the little girls who grow up,” said Young.

“When I was a young girl, I wanted that, so it is something special to be back in this position and be able to give something back to my community,” she continued. “I always try to do this when I'm at home – go to play, go to practices, whatever it is. As a model in my community (and) that return to younger generations, it is very important.”

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter @Brian_haken. Get Indystars Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark reporting with our CAITLIN Clark fever newsletter directly into your inbox.

You may also like...