DiJonai Carrington’s Anticipated Return to the Chicago Sky

For DiJonai Carrington, the 2026 WNBA season has largely been about waiting. After over three months sidelined, the guard is now set to debut for the Chicago Sky. This week, Carrington resumed full practice with the team after missing 27 games due to a left foot sprain, an injury she had during free agency. Carrington is considering herself a game-day decision, potentially starting as early as Thursday against the Connecticut Sun.

Reflecting on her recovery journey, Carrington stated, “I learned a lot about myself and my resiliency. It’s surreal to be near returning to the court.” Following a sprain in the 2025 playoffs, she underwent surgery in October, followed by another procedure in April to remove hardware from her foot. This recovery timeline aligned her return with the period just after the All-Star break.

The Sky’s schedule offers five home games following All-Star weekend, providing a suitable period for Carrington to reintegrate. The recent break between games allowed her to scrimmage fully with her teammates, which is a critical step before her return. “When they’re playing games constantly, I’m not going to ask nine of them to play full court after practice,” Carrington remarked with humor.

Additionally, Carrington’s injury recovery faced challenges due to the Sky’s absence of a centralized training site. Despite previous promises, their new facility in Bedford Park remains incomplete. Consequently, training sessions occurred at UIC, Loyola, and Wintrust Arena without consistent rehabilitation resources. Despite the delay, Carrington did not rely on this as an excuse, suggesting that everyone must navigate difficult situations without complaint.

The Sky signed Carrington for one year, aware she wouldn’t play until the season’s latter part. Although her recovery met optimistic projections, Coach Tyler Marsh faces the challenge of adjusting her return mid-season. Marsh already navigated similar adjustments twice due to earlier returns of key players, Courtney Vandersloot and Azurá Stevens. The team aims to salvage the season, with Carrington’s comeback adding complexity to their roster management.

Marsh acknowledged the difficulty of adjusting playing time but praised the team’s flexibility and unselfishness. Carrington’s potential impact was known from the start, and the team is prepared to integrate her effectively. “We’ll work it out as a unit,” Marsh said.

For now, Carrington’s focus is on her performance. Initially, she plans to leverage existing relationships with teammates such as Natasha Cloud and Vandersloot, having played with them in offseason leagues. Carrington feels more anticipation than anxiety about her return, looking forward to joining the court either against Connecticut, Las Vegas, or later in the homestand. “When I feel good, I’m not avoiding any challenge,” Carrington asserted. “I’m ready to play.”