Chicago Sky Set to Debut DiJonai Carrington vs Connecticut Sun

The Chicago Sky plan to insert guard DiJonai Carrington into the lineup on Thursday against the Connecticut Sun, provided she avoids any pre-game setback. Carrington has been rehabbing a significant left-foot sprain and was listed as questionable heading into the contest. Her return comes 27 games into the 44-game season, with the Sky seeking to reverse a 9-18 start and secure a playoff berth.

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Chicago’s campaign has been hampered by multiple injuries. Forward Rickea Jackson suffered a season-ending ACL tear four games in, while veteran guard Skylar Diggins has not played since July 3. Additionally, point guard Courtney Vandersloot is only ten games back after tearing her ACL last year. These absences have contributed to the team’s sub-par record and heightened the importance of Carrington’s activation.

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Carrington averaged 9.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game last season, after splitting time between the Dallas Wings (20 games) and the Minnesota Lynx, where she contributed to a championship run before a season-ending injury in the first round of the playoffs. Over five WNBA seasons she has posted career averages of 8.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists. The guard was a 2021 second-round draft pick, earned first-team All-Defensive honors and was named Most Improved Player in 2024 while with the Connecticut Sun.

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• “The last 10 months have been one of the most challenging and transformative journeys of my life, and I'm incredibly grateful to be back,” — Carrington

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• “First and foremost, I want to thank God, along with my village and rehab team for uplifting me throughout this process. I'm really proud of the resilience, discipline, and perseverance it took to get back to this moment. Now I'm just excited to be back doing what I love and ready to help my team however I can to make a strong late-season push.” — Coach Tyler Marsh

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