The Chicago Sky are fighting to stay in the WNBA playoff race with eight games remaining in the regular season. Chicago enters Thursday 14-22 and 10th in the standings, six games behind the eighth-place Dallas Wings, who are 20-16. With the margin for error shrinking, the Sky cannot afford many more setbacks.
DiJonai Carrington had given Chicago an important boost since returning from a lengthy recovery from a foot injury. She made her 2026 debut on July 30 against the Connecticut Sun after missing the Sky’s first 27 games, recording nine points, three rebounds and a block in 17 minutes. She played in nine consecutive games, including a career-high 26-point performance against the Seattle Storm on Aug. 10.
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Carrington’s streak of consecutive games will, however, come to an end when her team next returns to action at home. The Sky announced Thursday that the 28-year-old has been ruled out of Friday’s game against the Golden State Valkyries because of a foot injury.
It marks her first missed game since returning to the lineup.
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The absence comes at a difficult time for a Chicago team that needs every available contributor during its push for the final playoff spot. Carrington’s return had added another experienced two-way option to a roster already relying heavily on Natasha Cloud, Kamilla Cardoso and Azura Stevens.
The Sky will now face one of the league’s strongest teams without Carrington. Golden State has advanced to the playoffs and enters Friday’s game at 25-10, holding the second spot in the WNBA standings.
