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See the full story · 2 sourcesDiJonai Carrington set for emotional Sky debut against former team after long injury absence originally appeared on The Sporting News .
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DiJonai Carrington is expected to make her Chicago Sky debut Thursday night against the Connecticut Sun , the franchise that selected her in the 2021 WNBA Draft. The Chicago Sky could finally be ready to unveil one of their biggest offseason additions.
Veteran guard DiJonai Carrington plans to make her season debut Thursday night against the Connecticut Sun, barring a setback during pregame warmups, according to ESPN’s Alexa Philippou . Carrington has missed Chicago’s first 27 games while recovering from a left foot injury that required offseason surgery. Her expected return gives the Sky a much-needed boost as they attempt to reverse the direction of a disappointing season.
It also comes against the team with which Carrington began her WNBA career, adding another layer to an already important night.
DiJonai Carrington preparing to make Sky debut
Chicago signed Carrington to a one-year contract during the offseason, but the 28-year-old has been unable to play while completing her rehabilitation. That wait appears to be over.
Breaking: Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington plans to make her season debut on Thursday barring a setback pregame, she told ESPN. The 2024 Most Improved Player and first-team all-defensive pick -- who missed the first 27 games of the year rehabbing a left foot sprain -- will… pic.twitter.com/UnAQ3dp7PF
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) July 30, 2026 Carrington has made enough progress to put herself in position to face Connecticut, although her availability will not become official until she gets through her pregame work without an issue. The Sky will likely be cautious with her workload after such a lengthy absence. Carrington has not appeared in a WNBA game since last season, making it unrealistic to expect her to immediately handle a full complement of minutes.
Even in a limited role, however, her energy and defensive intensity could make a noticeable difference. Chicago entered Thursday with a 9-18 record and back-to-back losses. The Sky have struggled to find consistency while dealing with injuries throughout the season, leaving the team at the bottom of the WNBA standings.
Carrington’s return will not solve every problem overnight, but it gives Chicago another experienced perimeter defender and an aggressive player capable of attacking the basket.
Carrington faces the team that launched her WNBA career
Thursday’s opponent is especially familiar to Carrington. The Sun selected her with the No. 20 overall pick in the second round of the 2021 WNBA Draft. She spent four seasons in Connecticut and developed from a reserve into one of the league’s most disruptive guards.
Her breakthrough came in 2024, when Carrington averaged a career-high 12.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.6 steals. That performance earned her WNBA Most Improved Player honors and a spot on the All-Defensive First Team. Carrington was traded to the Dallas Wings before the 2025 season and later moved to the Minnesota Lynx in a midseason deal.
Across her time with Dallas and Minnesota, she averaged 9.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game. She shot 38.6 percent from the field and 31.9 percent from 3-point range. Those numbers only tell part of the story. Carrington’s value has always been rooted in her physicality, versatility and willingness to defend difficult perimeter assignments.
That is exactly what Chicago has been missing.
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What Carrington’s return means for the Sky
Carrington will provide the Sky with another option alongside Skylar Diggins and the rest of Chicago’s backcourt. Her presence could also help the team create easier offensive opportunities. Carrington is capable of turning steals, deflections and loose balls into transition chances, an area in which the struggling Sky could use an immediate lift.
The larger goal will be getting Carrington comfortable and healthy enough to take on a significant role over the remainder of the season. Chicago’s playoff hopes are already in serious danger, but Carrington’s debut gives the organization a reason for optimism. It will also offer the Sky their first real look at how she fits with the team’s core players in a competitive game.
The Sky and Sun are scheduled to tip off Thursday at 8 p.m. ET in Chicago.
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