With less than a week left in the regular season, the Chicago Sky (13-25) was still in the hunt for the eighth playoff spot. They might have been just one step away from making it, but the roster hadn’t been playing at the level they would’ve liked in the last few weeks. Now, things have gotten even worse: the team’s leading scorer was out.

Before their fourth and final game against the Atlanta Dream, the Sky announced on X that Chennedy Carter had been ruled out of the September 17th game due to a foot injury. The guard was allegedly seen receiving treatment on her foot during the game against the Phoenix Mercury, possibly leading to the decision tonight.

It was certainly a huge heartbreak for the Windy City. With an impressive 17.2 points per game average, she could have contributed to the team’s offense, which ranked 9th. Even her physicality during games was something opponents feared. But all of this went in vain as she missed the team’s most important game of the season.

On top of that, she couldn’t fulfill the promise she made to her teammates: “I’m ready to work with you guys. I missed you guys. I want to make a run. I’m here to do that,“ she had said in a post-practice session.

This was after missing several games due to COVID-19 protocols. Just when the Sky felt they couldn’t handle the cons of her absence anymore, she made a comeback. “Let’s f***ing do that. Let’s turn the page, forget about these last couple of games, and focus on the next ones,” she added. But once again, both Carter and the Sky find themselves in the same situation.

She was not the only one out from the Sky’s roster

No one can deny that things have gone downhill for the Chicago Sky in recent weeks. While Carter was out, two more important players joined her on the sidelines: Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. According to Julia Poe, the latter also couldn’t contribute due to a shoulder injury.

Until the last couple of weeks, the Sky had both a leading scorer and the league’s best rebounder. But it seemed like cards the Sky never played. Angel Reese, the rookie sensation leading the league in rebounding, was out just as Carter stepped back in.

Reese landed on her hand during the game against the Sparks and incurred a hairline fracture. The rookie preferred to take all necessary precautions to avoid worsening it. And it cost her a season’s end, the Rookie of the Year title, and very possibly a playoff spot for the Sky.

With the 86-70 win, the Dream now moves ahead with 14-25 on the board. Washington Mystics follow next with 13-26, same as Sky. All three teams have one more game remaining, but if Carter and Cardoso’s absence is to continue, the Windy City might as well count out.