Chennedy Carter is enjoying the freedom coach Teresa Weatherspoon gives her.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Sky guard Chennedy Carter got choked up Wednesday as she rose from her seat after fielding questions on media day.
“Y’all are going to make me cry,” she said as she left the interview room.
The No. 4 pick of the 2020 WNBA draft, Carter signed a Sky training-camp contract Feb. 9, marking her return to the league after playing in Turkey last season. In 2021, an elbow injury and a suspension for conduct “deemed detrimental to the team” effectively ended her time in Atlanta with the Dream. She’s grateful to be back.
“Honestly, it’s crazy to be out of the league and then be somewhere you’re wanted, loved and appreciated,” she said.
Carter’s talent was never in question as she dealt with her injury and off-the-court issues — it was always about how she fit in with a team dynamic. She said she learned how to be a leader and how to channel her emotions better after playing overseas.
“This moment is a little bit surreal,” she said. “Sitting out six months, seeing myself come back to Chicago, come here and be embraced and show my talent, it’s amazing. I wasn’t able to be me in a lot of places.”
It’s likely she’ll make the Sky roster with cut-down day approaching Monday. And with coach Teresa Weatherspoon, she’s confident she has found the right spot. Carter said Weatherspoon reminds her of former Dream coach Nicki Collen because of how the two connect with players. From her introductory news conference, Weatherspoon has stressed that bonding with her players is her priority.
“I want them to be able to learn,” Weatherspoon said. “I want to know them as a person. It’s important for me to have a relationship with each player. I want to know what makes you go or what your ‘why’ is. It makes it easier for me to keep you there to hold you accountable to it.”
Her penchant for giving her players grace and not being judgmental already has her off to a strong start with Carter.
“Chennedy is grasping this thing,” Weatherspoon said. “She’s running with it. She has a great group of young women she’s surrounded with [who love] her.”
Carter’s value to the Sky is primarily her scoring ability — she averaged 16.1 points in her two years in Atlanta. Having another coach who believes in her can only help.
“I just play loose,” Carter said. “I feel like I can really be me. I’m not worried about getting pulled out of the game. I’m not worried about if I’m doing too much. [Weatherspoon] really allows me to be me, not even just in a basketball aspect, but the person Chennedy Carter. A lot of people don’t have anyone who took the time to really get to know [them]. So just to be myself around the team every day and just pour into these girls . . . I’m thankful that I’m here.”