By Noah Velasco 

In her return season to the WNBA, Chennedy Carter proved to be an unstoppable blend of confidence, quickness and production. 

After originally signing a training camp contract on Feb. 9 with the Chicago Sky, she quickly made her presence on the team felt and finished the 2024 season as the Sky’s leading scorer. 

“I think it’s a testament to everything I’ve been through and everything that I’ve done,” Carter said after a July 16 win against Las Vegas. “I’ve been overshadowed a lot in my career. People don’t understand that I’m a consistent player and I’m going to come out there and be a dog night in and night out.”

It was a tale of two halves of the season for Carter. Through the first part of the Sky’s season, Carter was a productive contributor off the bench. She wound up being in Sixth Player of the Year award conversations earlier in the season, ranking second in the league in points per game off the bench for players with at least 10 appearances.

Additionally, Carter’s 51.1% shooting from the field ranked second among guards off the bench. Despite the Sky’s 5-8 record throughout her 13 games off the bench, Carter was a consistent source of offense. 

Then, when Carter’s number was called to join the Sky’s starting lineup, she helped the Sky push for the playoffs while being one of the league’s most versatile and efficient scorers.

In her 20 starts in 2024, Carter averaged 20.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 47.7% from the field. Her 20.7 points as a starter would have ranked fourth among all players league-wide. These were far from empty stats either. Eight of the Sky’s 13 wins this season came with Carter in the starting lineup.

She was efficient as well. Her 48.7% field goal percentage was second among guards in the league and ranked second-best among qualifying Sky players.

One crucial part of Carter’s effectiveness is her ability to score in fast break situations. With the team playing to Carter’s strengths as a quick, athletic and decisive guard, she averaged the second-most fast break points in the league with 3.7.

Similarly, generating turnovers led to open baskets and Carter was a beneficiary of the Sky’s fifth most 14.3 forced turnovers per game. Carter turned those turnovers into 3.7 points per game, ninth-best in the league.

The Texas A&M product also had an outstanding season in the paint, scoring 10.3 points per game in that range. Her points in the paint clip ranked sixth in the league. She’s the only guard who ranked in the top 10 and is one of just two backcourt players in the top 20.

Carter’s impressive play culminated in several career games. Carter scored a then-season high 33 points on July 5 against Seattle on 15 made field goals. On July 16 before the All-Star/Olympic break, she scored a season-high 34 points while making a career-high 14 field goals in a 93-85 upset over the Las Vegas Aces. 

Serving as a member of the closing lineup in the July 16 game, Carter scored 10 points in the final three minutes of that game to help the Sky win.

Carter missed some time after the break with an illness, but she picked up right where she left off upon her return. In her first game back on Sept. 6, she recorded 15 points, a career-high nine rebounds and a season-high seven assists to snap the Sky’s seven-game losing streak. When she subbed in, she returned to a standing ovation from Sky fans.

“For me, it means a lot,” Carter said on Sept. 6. “I haven’t been at this place in this moment in my career I don’t think ever. So to feel that from not only the fans but [also] my teammates … [they] make me feel loved and make me feel valued.”

Check out Carter’s full season highlights here.

Check out her 2024 recap and accolades here.