Back home again in Indiana: Jackie Young, Skylar Diggins have 'full circle' moment as WNBA All-Stars
Diggins led South Bend Washington to an IHSAA Class 3A state championship as a sophomore in 2007, finished her four-year career third on the state's all-time scoring list (2,790) and won IndyStar Miss Basketball in 2009.
Young, a Princeton Community alum and the 2016 IndyStar Miss Basketball, holds the state's all-time scoring record (3,268) and guided the Tigers to 53 consecutive wins and the 2015 Class 3A state championship.
Two Indiana basketball legends are back in their home state as 2025 WNBA All-Stars.
In 49 other states it's just basketball, but this is Indiana, as the saying goes. And it really doesn't get much more Indiana than this.
"It's pretty special, us both being from Indiana, having this moment here, having this opportunity," said Young. "Being an all-star in Indiana, being from Indiana, is super special. I've just been taking it all in this weekend, having a lot of fun experiencing it with my friends and family — and I'm excited to play, too."
"I've spent a lot of time here in Indianapolis and I've already seen a lot of familiar faces," added Diggins, whose family from South Bend will be among those making the trip for Saturday's game. "My kids are excited to be here and what better place to host it than Indiana?"
For Diggins, having her children in attendance has made this year's event even more memorable. The seven-time WNBA All-Star quipped instead of telling them how it was "back in her day," they'll be able to experience it first hand. "That's a big deal."
"I don't take it for granted," Diggins later added. "It's amazing."
As for the return to Indiana — specifically the massive photos of her (and the other WNBA All-Stars) located around town — Diggins expected nothing less.
"I guess I didn't know any better," Diggins said of the uniqueness of Indiana basketball.
"This is Indiana. It's basketball. Hoosier Hysteria is real," she smiled. "From the moment you can stand up, they put a ball in your hands, but it's around, inside, outside, 3-on-3, 5-on-5. I always grew up playing the game. It's the most accessible sport. … It's a culture that comes with the game of basketball in Indiana. Being here and being from here, the love of basketball is still with me to this day."
Young has never strayed far from her small-town roots and her trip to Indiana included a return to Princeton — as most usually do.
She visited the recently opened Princeton YMCA (located inside her old elementary school) on Thursday, where she hosted a youth basketball camp and was honored with a mural recognizing her careers at Princeton High, Notre Dame and Las Vegas.
"That's a small town, so we never would have thought a YMCA would actually open. And having a mural there in the gym is pretty special," Young said. "I spent a lot of time growing up in Princeton, playing basketball in Princeton. I'm just happy for the younger generation that they'll have more opportunities than I had growing up."
Young's appearance at Princeton came a few hours after she announced a new partnership with Skechers. oung said it was important for her to work with a brand that allows her to "stay true to herself." To that end, they gave out shoes to the Tigers' middle school and high school girls basketball teams as part of the day's festivities. (Young promised she'll hook up the boys team, too.)
"They allow me to do things that I want to do and that's giving back to my community (and) the little girls growing up," Young said.
"When I was a young girl, that's what I wanted, so to be in this position and to be able to give back to my community is special," she continued. "I always try to do that anytime I'm home — go to games, go to practices, whatever it is. Being that role model in my community (and) giving back to the younger generations, it's super important."
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