The Chicago Sky’s opening day of the training camp was far from being a full house. Five key players were off the court. Kamilla Cardoso and Elizabeth Williams are playing overseas, while Azurá Stevens and Maddy Westbeld were in attendance but limited due to injury. DiJonai Carrington’s reason for absence was unknown, but she did meet with team doctors to assess her left foot injury from last season. Now, the exact reason for her absence has been revealed, and it’s not looking pretty for the Sky fans. 

Carrington injured her left foot in the game against the Golden State Valkyries in September 2025 and has been on the sidelines ever since. She also missed the Unrivaled 2026 season, as she was still recovering then. “It’s super disappointing, especially with how everything ended up playing out. So, I’m definitely a little down right now. I’m getting ready to get my surgery and all that,” Carrington said in October 2025.  In free agency, Carrington signed with the Chicago Sky on a one-year deal. However, as training camp began, she was given no date for return after the latest medical process. 

“DiJonai Carrington had a minor procedure to remove hardware from her left foot, sources tell me,” Annie Costabile of The Athletic wrote. Naturally, the Chicago Sky fans have a lot of questions regarding one of their defensive pillars for the upcoming season. 

Chicago Sky Fans Haunted By Uncertainty After DiJonai Carrington Injury News

“What hardware? Is this a new injury? 😞,” asked one. “I don’t even know what that means,” pitched in another. Costabile mentioned in her update that the “surgery was an expected follow-up to one this offseason addressing a season-ending left foot injury.” And that Carrington will be in Chicago “soon,” where she’ll continue her rehab/return-to-play timeline, which is still unknown. 

The removal procedure is fairly natural and normal to address pain, infection, or irritation from implants like screws and plates. But when Sky signed Carrington, they had already planned for this. So, there must be plans in place to manage without Carrington. 

“She wasn’t going to start regardless. Jacey Sheldon or Gabriela Jaquez was going to start at the 2 spot with or without her,” wrote a fan. The Sky raised some eyebrows when they drafted Gabriela Jacquez at No. 5. But it makes sense if they are going to push her into the rotation immediately with DiJonai Carrington out. 

Jacquez averaged 13.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.1 steals as a senior, which gives them a wing. Her defense was not really her core strength, but she was still one of the best in her position in this class, while giving Sky her 39.5% three-point shooting. 

“You never want to hear ‘no timetable’… just hoping for a full recovery,” wrote one. “Feel better, Nai,” commented another.  Carrington has already suffered a lot. Two ACL injuries leading to 6 knee surgeries before the age of 25. Then last season, she missed significant time with a rib injury and finally ended the season with her ankle injury. 

It will take some time to return to her best, and the team will need to ensure that Carrington is fully fit when she eventually returns. Another setback here will affect her psychologically as well. Hopefully for Sky, the rest of the process goes smoothly, and she is back on the court as soon as possible.