Sky's Chennedy Carter lands on injury report after COVID scare

The Chicago Sky are about to enter a crucial phase in the 2024 WNBA season. Chicago begins the final week of August with a game against the Washington Mystics at Wintrust Arena on Wednesday. However, just one day before the game, the Sky received a troubling injury report on starting guard Chennedy Carter after the team was warned about COVID-19.

Carter will not be able to play in Wednesday's Mystics game due to “health and safety protocols,” the team said Tuesday night. It's not clear if the condition preventing Carter from playing is related to COVID-19. Hopefully she recovers quickly.

The sky Training on Tuesday cancelled due to the illness of several players, according to Annie Costabile of the Chicago Sun-Times. The team reportedly began testing for COVID-19 amid fears of illness. Unless the injury report changes before the game begins, the Sky should have enough players to face the Mystics.

Chennedy Carter was a real offensive powerhouse in her first year with the Sky, averaging 17.2 points (a team-high) and 1.1 steals per game (a career-high) in 28 games. Carter nearly helped the Sky overcome a 10-point deficit against the Las Vegas Aces on August 25. make a clutch three the game was tied one second before the end:

Carter's incredible shot was followed by a buzzer-beater from A'ja Wilson, giving the Sky a heartbreaking 77-75 loss.

Carter's absence from the game against the Mystics hurts Chicago, but the team will find other ways to get the much-needed win.

The Sky will rely on the performances of Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, but starter Lindsay Allen will also be crucial. Allen was a hit in the fourth quarter against the Aces on Sunday, scoring 16 points. If Allen, fellow starter Michaela Onyenwere and Chicago's reserve can provide a solid offense, the team has a chance to end its three-game losing streak.

Christopher Smith is a sportswriter who primarily covers the Chicago Sky, NBA, NCAA basketball and the NFL for ClutchPoints. A native of Aurora, Illinois, he graduated from Creighton University and is a contributing writer for Last Word on Sports and FanSided.