Things have gone downhill for the Chicago Sky in recent weeks. Chennedy Carter missed several games with an illness and returned just in time to help end the Sky's losing skid. Luck still wasn't on Chicago's side, as Angel Reese injured her wrist and had season-ending surgery.
Entering Tuesday's game against the Dream, the Sky sit ninth in the standings with a 13-25 record. Atlanta is on Chicago's heels with a 13-25 record. The Sky have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Dream, but that could change in a few hours.
Chicago could be eliminated from postseason contention with a loss to Atlanta and a Washington win over New York. The Sky are lucky that the Liberty are the best team in the league, but that might not matter much.
Shortly before the 7:30 p.m. ET tip-off, Chicago announced that Carter (foot) and Kamilla Cardoso (shoulder) won't play in Atlanta.
Kamilla Cardoso (shoulder) and Chennedy Carter (foot) will not play tonight for the Sky in Atlanta.
— Julia Poe (@byjuliapoe) September 17, 2024
Feels like a smart and necessary precaution for a team on the brink of elimination. Just land the plane.
Sky wave the white flag before their game against the Dream
As fans of every spot know, injuries can derail a season. The Sky were in a prime position before the Olympic break but have been on a downhill skid ever since. With a trip to the playoffs on the line, Chicago is looking ahead to the 2025 season.
Cardoso missed the first few weeks of her rookie season with a shoulder injury that she's since re-aggravated. Rather than worsening the injury for the chance of a first-round matchup against the Liberty, the Sky pulled her. There's a good chance she's already played in her final game of the season. The same goes for Carter.
It will be even more challenging for Chicago to leave Atlanta with a win. Carter is the team's leading scorer, followed by Reese, the team's leading rebounder. Behind Reese is Cardoso. The Sky aren't able to replace the production they'll miss from that trio.
A win would put the Sky in the driver's seat for the No. 8 seed, as the Mystics' final two games are against the Liberty and Fever. You can't count Chicago out yet, but that's the direction the team is headed in. The race for the final playoff spot will likely come down to Washington and Atlanta.
Hey, think on the bright side. Watching the beginning of the Sky's resurgence this season has been a lot of fun. We're totally not counting down the days to the start of the 2025 season or anything.