The long wait to hear from Skylar Diggins-Smith about joining the Phoenix Mercury was worth it. 

The two-time All-WNBA first team guard was insightful and engaging Sunday in her first Phoenix media appearance at halftime of the Phoenix Suns game vs. Milwaukee. She and her new backcourt teammate Diana Taurasi were introduced before the game at Talking Stick Resort Arena by Suns’ guard Devin Booker, celebrating International Women’s Day.

“The Mercury’s reputation precedes them,” Diggins-Smith said. “They’ve always been a class organization. They win on the floor. Great players, great leadership. I have some experience with Diana and Brittney (Griner) from USA Basketball. I’m happy to be on the other side of things.

“Even just walking through the arena and running into people who have their Mercury gear, they know how to make a girl feel good in Phoenix.”

The Mercury acquired the 29-year-old in a sign-and-trade with the Dallas Wings on Feb. 12 as their top free-agency priority after losing All-WNBA forward DeWanna Bonner in a sign-and-trade to Connecticut. Diggins-Smith signed for four years at a super max salary, which under the WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement pays her $215,000 base salary this year. 

Phoenix’s new Big Three are contenders to be on the U.S. team for the Tokyo Olympics and, more important locally, to keep the Mercury in contention for a fourth WNBA title in the Taurasi era.

Diggins-Smith said Taurasi and Griner contacted her about playing for the Mercury, knowing she wanted to leave Dallas. She was the No. 3 overall draft pick in 2013 by the Tulsa Shock, which became the Wings after a franchise relocation in 2016.

Her All-WNBA seaons were 2014 and 2017. She sat out last season after giving birth to her son Rowan and coping with postpartum depression.

“It helped me get some rest and got to learn a lot about my baby, getting used to the new normal,” Diggins-Smith said. “I’ve been working ever since I was eight weeks post. I’ve had my time off, I missed enough basketball, I’m ready to play.”

Diggins-Smith’s most recent WNBA game, ironically, was a 101-83 loss to the Mercury in a 2018 first-round playoff elimination game. She scored 23 that night and teammate Liz Cambage, now with Las Vegas, had 22 but it wasn’t enough when Taurasi, Griner and Bonner combined for 72.

Now, it will be Diggins-Smith trying to help extend the Mercury playoff string to an eighth straight year in a league suddenly stocked with so-called super teams because of free agency movement.

“I pushed a baby out,” Diggins-Smith joked about pressure. “Obviously I’ve been through all the pressure and the stage and the moment. It’s no secret I haven’t played in that much playoff games. But basketball is basketball. I’ve been playing this game for a long time, I’ve been a pro for a long time. I put (in) too many hours to stress about my performance on the floor. It’s about preparation and putting that time in.”

She’ll be doing that this week with Taurasi, getting a jump on training camp that begins in May. The season starts May 17 with a home game against Seattle at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, where the Mercury will play this season and probably in 2021 while Talking Stick Resort Arena is under renovation.

WNBA career scoring leader Taurasi, 37, also missed most of 2019 due to back and hamstring issues so she and Diggins-Smith are equally motivated to come back at an elite level especially in an Olympic year. Taurasi is a four-time Olympic gold medalist while Diggins-Smith is seeking to make her first Olympic team.

“I know the energy she brings, the focus,” Diggins-Smith said of Taurasi. “I’m excited to see if I can get in the gym before her and make a good impression.”

Diggins-Smith and newly acquired Mercury guard Bria Hartley were USA Basketball gold-medal teammates at the 2012 3-x-3 World Championships. In college, she helped Notre Dame reach three NCAA Final Fours. Second-year Mercury forward Brianna Turner also played for the Irish after Diggins-Smith. 

More: Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi on teaming with Skylar Diggins-Smith and her improving health

More: Phoenix Mercury GM believes Diana Taurasi will play beyond 2020

More: Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi delivers heartfelt tribute at Kobe Bryant memorial

Reach the reporter at [email protected] or 602-444-8053. Follow him on Twitter @jeffmetcalfe.

Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.