Sky heavily depleted by injuries, Mercury's Kahleah Copper could miss return to Chicago

Left: Angel Reese (5) © Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | Middle: Kahleah Copper (2) © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Right: Kamilla Cardoso (10) © Jacob Musselman/ For IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

While the Chicago Sky were in the driver’s seat for the No. 8 seed in the WNBA standings, injuries to multiple, key players have seen them now in the middle of a three-team race with the Washington Mystics and Atlanta Dream for the final playoff spot.

Both of Chicago’s first-round picks in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Angel Reese (No. 7 pick) and Kamilla Cardoso (No. 3), are injured and may miss Sunday’s matchup against the Phoenix Mercury. Reese suffered a season-ending wrist injury while Cardoso is questionable with an injury to her shoulder.

Going head-to-head with Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark during the WNBA Rookie of the Year race, Reese was presenting a strong case to be the rightful winner until this setback. Breaking multiple Sky franchise and league records this season, the LSU product Reese was averaging a double-double per game in her first year as a pro, with 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game. She sustained the injury on Sept. 6 against the Los Angeles Sparks and has been out ever since.

Cardoso played 37 minutes vs. the Minnesota Lynx on Friday, and recorded 16 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double. The Brazilian has played 31 games (28 starts) this season, tallying 10.0 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. There is a possibility that she does end up facing the Mercury on Sunday, more news will come out soon on her status.

Not only is Reese unavailable and maybe Cardoso too for the Sky, but the team will be severely shorthanded even more with 2016 WNBA Most Improved Player Elizabeth Williams (knee) and former Mercury Diamond DeShields (ankle) both being ruled inactive.

Williams has not appeared in a game since June 6 against the Mystics after she tore her meniscus, which required her to undergo surgery. Only playing nine games this season, she averaged 10.0 points and 7.0 assists per game. She was an All-Star in 2017, made the 2020 All-Defensive First-Team and last year’s All-Defensive Second-Team. The Virginia native was just getting her second season in Chicago underway before the injury, with her also playing for the Connecticut Sun (2015), Dream (2016-21) and the Mystics (2022).

DeShields has missed the past few games with an ankle injury, being dealt another blow as she missed the entirety of last season with a knee injury. In four of her five WNBA seasons before 2023, she was a double-digit scorer and still owns a career average of 11.6 points per game. DeShields was on the Mercury in 2022 but has spent the majority of her career in Chicago, with her returning this season after a four-year stint from 2018-21. Starting in 10 of 32 games she’s suited up for, the 6-foot-1 guard is posting 4.5 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.

As for the Mercury, they may also be without up to three players as well. Kahleah Copper (back) is questionable while both Rebecca Allen (right hamstring) and Charisma Osborne (Left Lower Leg) continue to be sidelined.

Copper, who played seven seasons (2017-23) for the Sky and helped the team win its first-ever WNBA championship in 2021, has been the Mercury’s most important player of the year ever since she was traded in February. Before missing the 88-69 loss to the Sun on Friday, Copper started in all 36 games before that, averaging a career-high in scoring with 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.

Allen and Osborne remain unavailable for selection as they are still recovering from injuries. Both of them have been practicing lately but have not played a game since before the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The Mercury clashes with the Sky in Chicago at 3 p.m. PT.