The Chicago Sky will be shorthanded on Friday night when they welcome the Indiana Fever into Wintrust Arena. Starting guard Chennedy Carter has been ruled out for the Eastern Conference matchup.
Chloe Peterson of the Indianapolis Star reported the news on Friday. Carter will miss Friday's game because of health and safety protocols.
Carter is the Sky's leading scorer this season, averaging 17.2 points per game. She's also averaging 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.1 steals per contest. The veteran guard also missed Chicago's game against the Washington Mystics on Wednesday.
Washington defeated Chicago 74-70. The Sky fell to 11-19 on the season, narrowly clinging onto that all-important eighth seed, which guarantees a spot in the WNBA postseason.
Indiana and Chicago have already played three times this season, with the Fever winning two. Indiana won both games on its home court, defeated Chicago 71-10 on June 1 and again on June 16 by a score of 91-83.
On June 23, the Sky notched a victory at Wintrust Arena, taking down the Fever 88-87. Friday's game will mark the final head-to-head between the two teams in the regular season.
Fans will be tuned in and ready to see rookie sensations Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese go head-to-head for the fourth and final time, as well. Both are shattering WNBA records in their first season.
Clark became the first rookie in WNBA history to post a triple-double, and also owns the league's rookie records for 3-pointers made and single-season assists. She also set the WNBA's single-game assist record (19) and leads all players with 8.1 assists per game in 2024.
Reese shattered the league's consecutive double-double streak, recording 15 in a row earlier this year. She's also tied the WNBA's rookie record for double-doubles in a single season (Tina Charles, 22). Reese also leads the league with 12.9 rebounds per contest.
Entering Friday's matchup, the Fever and Sky are sitting in the seventh and eighth spots in the league standings with a month left in the season. This is a pivotal Eastern Conference matchup that should provide plenty of excitement.
Unfortunately for the Sky, having Carter away from the team is going to be a major hurdle to overcome.
Indiana and Chicago are scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. ET tipoff from Wintrust Arena. The game will air on ION.
Carter's Absence Due to Health and Safety Protocols
The news of Carter's absence comes after the Sky abruptly canceled practice on Tuesday morning, testing the team for a possible Covid outbreak. Several players on the team felt sick and were advised by the medical staff to wear masks at the Sky's practice facility. The Sky's injury report later in the day listed Carter as the only player, aside from center Elizabeth Williams (knee), as out because of health and safety protocols.
Impact of Carter's Absence
Carter's absence is a significant blow to the Sky, who are fighting for a playoff spot. They are coming off three consecutive losses, including a last-second 77-75 loss to the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday. Carter tied the game on a 3-pointer with about a second remaining, but the Aces' A'ja Wilson then won it with a basket at the buzzer.
Carter's absence will put more pressure on the Sky's other players to step up. Angel Reese, the rookie sensation, has been on an unprecedented run of three consecutive games with 20 or more rebounds. She has 21 double-doubles this season, one away from breaking the rookie season record in that category. Reese's performance will be crucial in Carter's absence.
Sky's Fight for a Playoff Spot
The Sky are currently in the eighth and final playoff spot, holding a one-game lead over the ninth-place Atlanta Dream. They need to start winning games soon if they want to maintain their position. Carter's absence makes this task more difficult.
Looking Ahead
The Sky will continue to provide updates on Carter's status as they are made available. The game against the Fever is a must-win for the Sky, who are hoping to secure their playoff spot. It will be a tough task without Carter, but the Sky are hoping to pull off a victory.
The Sky's New Reality
While the Sky are facing a challenging period, they remain focused on the task at hand: securing a playoff spot. The team's resilience and the impressive play of Angel Reese give them a fighting chance despite the absence of Chennedy Carter. The next few weeks will be crucial for the Sky, and the team's performance in Carter's absence will be a key indicator of their playoff potential. The Sky are hoping that Carter's absence is short-lived, and they can welcome her back to the court as soon as possible. However, for now, they must rely on their depth and determination to overcome this challenge.
