DiJonai Carrington’s “long-awaited return” to the Chicago Sky lineup Tuesday against the Connecticut Sun lasted a brutal four minutes, and now everyone’s holding their breath. She was cleared to play, listed as “questionable” with a left foot injury, but after just one rebound in the first half, the Sky pulled her from the game. That’s a gut punch for everyone who’s been waiting for her to get back on the court, and it throws a massive wrench into what’s left of their season.
The Foot Issue Is Back. Again.
This isn’t just some minor tweak either. This is the same left foot injury that forced Carrington to miss the Sky’s *first 27 games* while she was recovering. She finally made her season debut earlier in August, playing her 10th game last Sunday against the Indiana Fever. In that game, she came off the bench for 18 minutes, putting up seven points, three rebounds, one assist, and one block in a tough 113-90 loss. That defeat officially knocked the Sky out of playoff contention for the third straight year, which only makes this latest setback sting even more. You just hate to see a player fight so hard to get back, only for the injury to immediately resurface.
Day-to-Day Turned Into Four Minutes, And The Stakes Are High
Before Tuesday’s game, coach Tyler Marsh was describing Carrington’s foot issue as “day-to-day.” He even said she “felt well enough to play last game” and they’d just “continue to monitor it.” The plan was for her to be a “game time decision,” and she *was* cleared, which makes getting pulled after four minutes even more concerning. Her season averages in limited action have been 9.7 points and 3.3 rebounds, shooting 33.7% from the field and 29.2% from three-point range over 17.4 minutes. Losing her again, especially with Natasha Cloud also out with a right knee injury and veteran Skylar Diggins already sidelined, leaves the Sky incredibly thin. With no playoffs in sight, the biggest concern for the Sky now has to be Carrington’s long-term health. They’ve got little reason to take unnecessary risks with her. The big question now is whether she can finish the season safely, not how quickly they can get her back into the rotation. The Sky haven’t said anything about the severity of this latest setback or when we might see her on the court again. It’s a waiting game, and for Carrington and the Sky, it feels like an agonizing one.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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