Chicago Sky have a Chennedy Carter problem with no simple fix

The Chicago Sky narrowly missed the playoffs in 2024 and have two young building blocks in the frontcourt. Angel Reese was a rookie All-Star and is already adding to her game for year two. She will be playing in Unrivaled to showcase her upgrades. Kamilla Cardoso is dominant inside, but neither was the Sky’s best player last season.

Chennedy Carter led the team in points and win shares per 40 minutes. The 26-year-old is in her prime and ready to put up monster numbers. She has struggled to find a home in the W and may be on the move again.

Carter is a restricted free agent, and Chicago desperately needs a scoring guard to complement Reese and Cardoso. The Sky can match any offer, but Carter has been posting about leaving on social media. If she is gone, the franchise has a massive problem.

Chennedy Carter may leave the Sky this offseason

New head coach Tyler Marsh talked about his excitement in developing Reese and Cardoso when taking over. Carter was not mentioned as part of their core, despite being their top scorer. Her social media posts suggest talks between her agent and the franchise have not gone well.

Teresa Weatherspoon connected with Carter and brought the best out of her. The head coach being fired changed the dynamic. The 26-year-old has played for three different WNBA teams and missed an entire season in her five years since being drafted. Carter is no stranger to changing teams.

Losing Chennedy Carter forces Sky to rebuild

If Carter leaves this offseason, Reese will be their highest returning scorer at 13.6 points per game. She was incredibly inefficient as a rookie and is not ready to take on more shots. Elizabeth Williams is the only other player on their roster who averaged more than ten points per game in 2024.

Chicago needs a top scorer but will struggle to sign one if they plan on entering a rebuild. They have cap space. Every player will be searching for a one-year contract with the salary cap expected to rise significantly in 2026. Does someone join a team headed toward the bottom of the standings? It won’t be an easy sell, especially with the expansion Golden State Valkyries searching for talent.

Chennedy Carter is ready to test free agency, and the Chicago Sky do not appear to see her as a long-term fit. Expect Carter to keep getting buckets wherever she lands. The Sky will struggle to replace her production and have the worst record in the W if they cannot find someone to take over as their top scorer. This is certainly a space to watch as the player movement heats up this offseason.