the Chicago sky are facing a significant challenge as Kennedy Carter has been officially ruled out due to health and safety protocols this news is a major surprise especially considering that multiple players have reportedly been affected by illnesses which has disrupted practices Carter who is arguably their best player is now sidelined creating a difficult situation for the sky as they approach their next game Carter's absence is particularly concerning because she has been dealing with illness since the team returned from the Olympic break her health issues appear to have had a ripple effect impacting the entire team the timing is especially unfortunate as the sky are in the midst of a critical phase of the season and losing Carter could severely impact their performance there is speculation about whether Carter's illness is covid related though there has been no official confirmation the possibility that she might have played while sick raises questions about the team's handling of the situation given her ongoing health issues it's highly unlikely that Carter will be able to play in the upcoming game on Friday this puts the sky in a tough spot as they are set to face a Washington Mystics team that is better equipped to handle the challenges posed by the sky lineup the mystics have been a formidable opponent All Season despite their record not fully reflecting their capabilities they have key players like Aaliyah Edwards who has consistently performed well against the sky particularly in matchups against Angel Reese the mystics also have strong defensive players like Ariel Atkins who can neutralize threats like Lindsay Allen and a deep bench that can provide valuable contributions without Carter the sky will struggle to generate offense the team may have to rely on other players like Dana Evans to step up and take on a larger scoring role how however even with improved performances from players like Lindsay Allen and Camila cardoso the sky will likely find it difficult to compete against the mystics the Mystics roster is well-rounded with players who can both score and defend effectively making them a tough matchup for the sky the situation is further Complicated by the fact that the sky have already made moves that suggest they are focusing on the future they have traded away key players and may be positioning themselves for a draft pick this has led some to speculate that the team might be willing to tank the rest of the season in order to secure a better position in the upcoming draft where they could potentially acquire a top guard like Olivia miles ultimately the sky are in a difficult position without Kennedy Carter their chances of winning against the mystics are slim the team will need to make the most of their remaining games but the focus may already be shifting towards the future and the possibility of rebuilding for the next season