Where the Chicago Sky could count more on its familiar faces in seasons past, guard Chennedy Carter was one of the Sky's best in what proved to be the Era of the Newcomer for the Windy City franchise.
Carter took the Sky by storm after being one of three players to sign a training contract with Chicago before the 2024 WNBA season. She provided stability to a guard rotation that lost Allie Quigley, Courtney Vandersloot, Kahleah Copper and Marina Mabrey in just two seasons. Carter completed a resurgent season as a full-time starter for the Sky and a staple of its offense. The former first-round selection would average a team-leading 17.5 points per game in her debut year with Chicago.
Offense: A
Carter's scoring would make her a valuable part of the Sky's 2024 campaign.
Carter proved she could be a staple scoring threat for the Sky since she scored in double-digits during her second game of the season. She scored 20 points or more on 11 occasions, including in two memorable wins against playoff contenders. The former Texas A&M guard logged her first 20-point game in a June win over the Washington Mystics. She earned 25 points off the bench in the Sky's lone Commissioner's Cup win.
Carter would lead the Sky in points per game and total points in 33 games played. She placed just ahead of Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard for 12th place in the league in points per game. Carter would add 3.1 assists per game through flashy passes, looks in transition and bail-out dishes to open teammates off drives. Though her outside shot could improve, her scoring skills would make her a valuable guard option should the Sky re-sign her in the offseason.
Defense: B-
Carter ended last season with 1.1 steals per game, which put her in fourth place on the Sky's roster. She found ways to jump in front of and pick off passes when she played off the ball. She logged three steals in six games, including in the Sky's key wins over the Las Vegas Aces and Seattle Storm.
Her aggressiveness when picking off passes provided plenty of transition opportunities for a Sky squad that lost some fastbreak firepower from seasons past. Chicago took seventh place in the league in fastbreak points per game last season. It ranked in the top four in its previous two campaigns.