DiJonai Carrington Returns to the Court

6 days ago 0

The 2026 WNBA season has been largely spent in anticipation for DiJonai Carrington. After more than three months on the sidelines, she’s ready to debut for the Chicago Sky. Carrington returned to full practice this week, having missed the first 27 games due to a left foot sprain from the previous season. She’s currently a game-day decision, possibly making her debut on Thursday against the Connecticut Sun.

“I learned a lot about my resilience,” Carrington stated. Her road to recovery included surgery in October and a procedure in April to remove hardware from her foot. This three-month rehabilitation was designed for her return post-All-Star break. The Sky now host a series of five home games, providing a chance for her to rejoin the team. This schedule allowed Carrington to engage in full-court scrimmages with her teammates.

“When they’re playing every other day, I can’t ask them to play full court with me,” Carrington joked.

Her recovery faced challenges due to a lack of a dedicated training site. The new facility in Bedford Park remains unavailable, forcing the team to train at UIC, Loyola, and Wintrust Arena. This has impacted her rehabilitation process, yet Carrington remains undeterred by the obstacles.

“You can’t use that as an excuse,” Carrington said. “You just have to find a way to do what you need to do.”

Carrington was initially signed for one year with the understanding she would not be immediately available. Her recovery has followed the more positive schedule for her return, though incorporating her midseason poses a challenge for coach Tyler Marsh. This pattern is familiar. The team began the year with key players, including guards Azurá Stevens and Courtney Vandersloot, and Carrington, sidelined by injuries. As others returned to the court, adjustments were necessary.

“It is tough,” Marsh explained. “It changes how you manage minutes, but we have a flexible, unselfish team.” He noted the significance of Carrington’s return and emphasized teamwork to navigate these adjustments.

For Carrington, basketball remains her main focus. She intends to lean on existing connections with teammates like Natasha Cloud and Vandersloot from offseason leagues. As she nears her return, a certain anxiety accompanies these moments, but Carrington is eager to play, whether it is against Connecticut, the Las Vegas Aces, or later in the homestand.