“God gives his hardest battles to his strongest soldiers,” Angel Reese wrote announcing her season-ending wrist injury. The Chicago Sky rookie’s sensational campaign has come to an unfortunate end, just before the playoffs kicked off. Hence, Teresa Weatherspoon’s squad will now have to fight for the last seat to the next stage of the WNBA season without one of their primary players. But the WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes believes there is still hope for the Chicago team.

The Sky cruised through a win (92-77) against the Dallas Wings on Sunday and Reese had been put on the injury list with a questionable status. While the LSU alum didn’t play that day, there was one name that shone after coming back from injury herself. Someone who has been averaging a team-high 17.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.1 steals and has been the biggest help to T-spoon in clutch situations.

Sheryl Swoopes pointed out her choice on the Queens of the Court podcast, gushing “Chennedy Carter, Chennedy Carter, Chennedy Carter, that’s what I’ll say.” Carter scored 7 of her 28 points in the first couple of minutes against the Wings, and the Sky never trailed Dallas in their win. The guard had missed four games because of an illness, but she’s back, stronger than ever.

“So when you say what this means for Chicago with Angel being out, does it hurt Chicago? Without a doubt. Taking away 13 points, 14 rebounds a game, that hurts,” Swoopes maintained. “But I will also say, if Chennedy Carter can continue to play the way she’s playing, then you have Izzy doing what she’s doing, I think Chicago is looking at this like, ‘now it’s our opportunity.'”

Much as we might be thinking, Swoopes reiterates how the loss of one player will heavily affect the team. And yes, the star player of the Sky will be missed, but one person alone does not make a team. “This is an opportunity for players to step up. I mean they looked really good the other night against Dallas,” she said. However, all is not well for the team.

Tied with the Atlanta Dream for the eighth and final playoff spot, the Chicago Sky only have six games left in the season to clinch their position. And even if Reese is no longer in the game, Carter might be the answer to their problems as the team noticeably went 0-4 in her absence. In her comeback game after a 4-game absence against the Los Angeles Sparks on September 7, and dropped a 15-point, nine-rebound, seven-assist effort to lead the team to win it 92-78. This was followed by the win against Dallas on September 9.

Indeed, the Sparks and the Wings are not the best teams out there, but for Chicago, coming back to the winning ways was more important. Those wins were their first consecutive victories since early July. If the Skies qualify for the playoff, that will be the first playoff of Carter’s career.

“For me, it means a lot. I haven’t been at this place, in this moment in my career, I don’t think ever. So to feel that from not only our fans, but my teammates and my coaches, makes me feel loved, makes me feel valued. It’s an amazing feeling,” Carter said. While she is being projected as the mainstay of the team in Angel’s absence, Chennedy might have to keep a check on her aggressiveness, something that has bothered her in the past.

Chennedy has a history of suspensions for her aggressive behavior. The latest one came only a few months back. In Chicago Sky’s game against the Indiana Fevers on June 1 for her foul against Caitlin Clark. It came late in the third quarter of Indiana’s win when, after making a basket, Carter knocked down Clark while Clark awaited an inbounds pass.

Carter seemed to say something before slamming her shoulder into Clark, causing her to fall to the ground. Carter was whistled for an away-from-the-play foul, that awarded Clark her lone free-throw attempt of the game. But on June 2, WNBA upgraded Carter’s foul from a common foul to a Flagrant 1 violation. However, this was not the only occasion when Carter faced such a fate.

Many of you might remember the incident that took place back in 2021 when Carter was a part of the Atlanta Dream. She had an altercation with teammate Courtney Williams on that occasion. The dispute began when Williams suggested that Carter should be more supportive from the bench. This led to a heated argument with escalating tensions. Consequently, Carter was benched for the remainder of the game and eventually suspended by the Dream.

Former Dream interim head coach Mike Peterson had said at the time, stating, “She’s working through stuff with ownership to try to get a process where she can return.” However, Carter never donned the Atlanta jersey again, playing her last game on July 4 while ending her season with only 11 appearances. Despite all this, her talent earned her a spot in the Los Angeles Sparks in 2022, ultimately landing with the Chicago Sky. As she prepared to lift the team, she had a strong message for the team before she made a comeback.

Chennedy Carter knows what she means for the Chicago Sky

A seven-game skid is something no one wants just before the playoffs are set to begin. And Chennedy Carter arrived on Sunday with the mindset to help her team win after missing the last four games. Per the Chicago Sun Times, the 25-year-old wanted to deliver a message to her teammates, who had been eagerly waiting for her to return.

“I let them know: ‘Guys, I know I was out for a minute longer than expected, but I’m back now and I’m ready to work with you guys,’” Carter said Thursday. “‘I missed you guys. I want to make a run. I’m here to do that. Let’s [expletive] do that. Let’s turn the page.’”

While 2024 is her last season with the Sky before she becomes a free agent, as of now, Carter knows what she has contributed to the team. “This season shows my value,” the Sky veteran said. This season, the 2020 fourth-overall pick is leading the league in fast-break points. An aspect that adds pace to the squad’s rather slow playing style. Certainly, with complete motivation to make it to the postseason, Carter is all set to make the push.

Meanwhile, the team’s rookie player will be looking to heal her body as much as she can before the next year rolls around. But in the meantime, she can put her faith in her team to make it to the playoffs and repeat their 2021 feat, even if it’s without her.