The Chicago Sky, once in control of the No. 8 seed in the WNBA standings, now find themselves in a tight battle with the Washington Mystics and Atlanta Dream for the final playoff spot. Injuries to key players have drastically altered their course.
Both of the Sky’s 2024 first-round picks, (No. 7) anAngel Reesed Kamilla Cardoso (No. 3), are currently sidelined and may miss the upcoming game against the Phoenix Mercury. Reese suffered a season-ending wrist injury, while Cardoso is questionable due to a shoulder issue.
Reese, who was competing with Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark for the WNBA Rookie of the Year, was having an impressive season before her injury. She was averaging 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game, setting multiple franchise and league records. Her wrist injury, sustained on September 6 against the Los Angeles Sparks, cut short her promising rookie season.
Cardoso, meanwhile, played 37 minutes in Friday’s game against the Minnesota Lynx, contributing 16 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double. Having played 31 games this season, Cardoso is averaging 10.0 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Her status for Sunday’s game remains uncertain.
In addition to Reese and potentially Cardoso, the Sky will be without other key players. Elizabeth Williams, the 2016 WNBA Most Improved Player, has been sidelined with a knee injury since June. She tore her meniscus and underwent surgery, appearing in only nine games this season. The former All-Star and All-Defensive team member was averaging 10.0 points and 7.0 assists per game before her injury.
Diamond DeShields, a former Mercury player, is also inactive due to an ankle injury. DeShields, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, has averaged 11.6 points per game over her WNBA career. However, this season, she has been limited to 4.5 points per game in 32 appearances, with 10 starts.
As for the Mercury, they are also dealing with injuries. Kahleah Copper, who played seven seasons for the Sky and led the team to their first-ever WNBA championship in 2021, is questionable for Sunday’s game due to a back injury. Copper has been a key player for the Mercury this season, averaging a career-high 21.6 points, along with 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. She missed the team’s last game against the Sun but started the previous 36 games.
Additionally, Rebecca Allen (hamstring) and Charisma Osborne (lower leg) remain out for the Mercury as they continue to recover from injuries sustained before the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Sky and Mercury will face off in Chicago with both teams dealing with significant injury challenges.
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