Several of the Chicago Sky’s players from the 2024 season became free agents this offseason, most notably Chennedy Carter. Carter thrived with the Sky, averaging 17.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.1 steals. She was the team’s leading scorer and primary source of offense on the perimeter, especially after Marina Mabrey was traded to the Connecticut Sun.
After the WNBA season, Carter continued her offensive tear in China, regularly putting up huge numbers. There were plenty of reasons to think the Sky would re-sign her. Letting their best scorer walk in free agency did not seem like a reasonable option for a team struggling to create offense. Plus, replacing the kind of production Carter offered offensively is not easy.
Nevertheless, the Sky did not make Carter a qualifying offer with their other restricted free agents and let her become an unrestricted free agent. While the move was somewhat unexpected—the Sky also could have made Carter an offer and then moved her in a trade—it seems the Sky were right. Carter has evidently not received much interest in free agency so far.
Chennedy Carter is still a free agent
Chennedy Carter entered the WNBA as the fourth overall pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft and was named to the All-Rookie Team. Nevertheless, she never quite established herself as a quality player in the league. In 2023, she did not even get a contract with a WNBA team.
By now, it seems that Carter may be facing a repeat of the 2023 season. She has been an unrestricted free agent for a while already and is certainly one of the most productive players still available. Nevertheless, no team has signed her yet, reiterating whatever concerns the Sky had about re-signing Carter.
Carter was far from a perfect fit with the Sky. As a team that plays two current non-shooters in the frontcourt, the Sky need as many 3-point shooters around Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso as possible. Carter is not that. She shot only 29 percent on 0.9 attempts from three per game last season. Still, she could offer a nice scoring punch to any team in need of some extra offense, maybe even off the bench.
However, reporting by Annie Costabile suggests that there were also some locker room and chemistry issues involved in the Sky’s decision-making. That certainly did not help Carter’s case in free agency, and soon it will be tough for her to secure a roster spot. Teams are slowly, but surely filling out their rosters, even the new Golden State Valkyries and the now-rebuilding Connecticut Sun.
There is still some time for Carter to find a team, but the fact that no one has signed her yet shows that the Sky were right to have their doubts about her ability to help their team. Unless there are some off-court issues involved, a player of Carter’s talent should have been signed quickly once she became available.