{"id":617258,"date":"2026-05-01T13:03:04","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T13:03:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/617258\/"},"modified":"2026-05-01T13:03:04","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T13:03:04","slug":"dijonai-carrington-gives-update-on-injury-after-hardware-removal-surgery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/617258\/","title":{"rendered":"DiJonai Carrington Gives Update on Injury After Hardware Removal Surgery"},"content":{"rendered":"

DiJonai Carrington\u2019s arrival with the Chicago Sky has been rough, marked by uncertainty. The 5-year pro has missed most of training camp and the two subsequent preseason games for the team due to a hardware removal surgery to address an injury concern she faced last year. As a result, the primary question around her camp was: When will Sky\u2019s latest addition return to the court? Now, Carrington has shared an update herself.<\/p>\n

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Speaking during the Chicago Sky\u2019s latest media availability session, Carrington shared an update on the uncertainty surrounding her surgery and its recovery. Although she didn\u2019t mention her return timeline, Carrington\u2019s inherent feelings about her fitness speak volumes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have a timeline that I\u2019m going to publicize. However, my recovery is going very well,\u201d she said<\/a>. \u201cI did have the hardware surgery a couple of weeks back. So, that\u2019s why I wasn\u2019t able to be here at the beginning of the camp. But it was very successful. I feel great. I do really feel good and strong. Like, if it was up to me, I would be out there. But it\u2019s a comforting feeling how I feel right now, knowing that I have a couple of weeks to go still.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m good. I\u2019m excited, and I mean it\u2019s been September, that\u2019s the last time I played a game. So, it\u2019s been a long time. Obviously, I\u2019m back in the boot for a little bit, but don\u2019t let that fool you. I have not taken that many steps backwards.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carrington\u2019s injury nemesis isn\u2019t something new. In fact, she missed quite a few games courtesy of an injury-laden stretch last year. She suffered a rib injury in June, forcing her to miss 6 consecutive games, followed by a shoulder injury, leading to 4 more missed games. And the left foot injury that she picked up in September during the Golden State Valkyries turned out to be the final nail, and she\u2019s still facing the consequences of it.<\/p>\n

This injury forced her to miss the remainder of the season and prevented her from playing during the Unrivaled season. \u201cIt\u2019s super disappointing, especially with how everything ended up playing out. So, I\u2019m definitely a little down right now. I\u2019m getting ready to get my surgery and all that,\u201d Carrington said last year<\/a> in October.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also the reason that forced her to undergo the hardware removal surgery a few weeks back, which, as per journalist Annie Costabile, was a follow-up of the surgery that she went through due to the foot injury last year. Now, as per her assessment, she\u2019s feeling quite ready and rearing up to go, but it\u2019s clear that she isn\u2019t medically fit to take the court for her new team. And it\u2019s nothing unusual, as a typical recovery time from a hardware removal surgery takes 4-6 weeks. Hardware removal is a standard procedure that takes care of pain, irritation or infection caused by implants.<\/p>\n

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Imago<\/p>\n

While DiJonai Carrington hasn\u2019t mentioned a specific return date, the 4-6 weeks timeline suggests she may also be unavailable for a few games in the official season. This is quite a concern for the Chicago Sky, given the experience she brings to the table, and she is a dynamic guard to have off the bench. For instance, in the last season, when Carrington suffered an injury spree, her numbers didn\u2019t drop.<\/p>\n

She scored over 9.8 points per game, grabbed 4.0 rebounds, and recorded 1.1 steals despite not starting many games, an injury spree, and even after being traded from Dallas to Minnesota. This speaks volumes about her prowess and underscores the fact that the Sky will miss her immensely until her return. Amid it, a key member of the Chicago Sky front office has reflected on Carrington\u2019s absence from the team\u2019s active lineup.<\/p>\n

Chicago Sky GM Addresses DiJonai Carrington\u2019s Absence Due to Recovery<\/p>\n

Notably, Carrington wasn\u2019t the only player absent from the Chicago Sky\u2019s training camp and preseason games. Azura Stevens also graced the list due to a knee injury. With these players absent and Skylar Diggins-Smith also missing the Atlanta Dream game due to an injury (day-to-day), the team lineup changed drastically in both games.<\/p>\n

Speaking about these players\u2019 absence from the lineup during the latest team media availability, Sky General Manager, Jeff Pagliocca stated that their return from injury recovery depends entirely on their confidence to get back on the court.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt looks like we had another starting lineup in the back of that bench last night,\u201d Pagliocca said. \u201cAnd that said we also have a few great players that are going to hold it down until they\u2019re back. We\u2019re expecting everybody to make a full recovery. I\u2019m not going to talk about a timeline because these players need to feel safe and confident when they return to play.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pagliocca further diverted his attention to Carrington\u2019s situation, affirming the players\u2019 stance of a positive recovery update. \u201cCarrington is, we\u2019ve been in close communication with her doctors and expecting a full recovery there too,\u201d the Sky GM said.<\/p>\n

The Chicago Sky hopes to have players like DiJonai Carrington<\/a> and Azura Stevens back as soon as possible. Without the depth these top-class players add to the team\u2019s rotation, the Sky have struggled massively in the preseason, losing both their games against the Phoenix Mercury and Atlanta Dream. Both these games were immensely tightrope contests, and a little more depth with players like Carrington could have given the Sky the edge.<\/p>\n

Even though they have a few positive conclusions to draw. For instance, Hailey Van Lith dropped a 20 against the Phoenix Mercury, and Sydney Taylor recorded 23 points against the Dream. But individual performances like these won\u2019t help them much in the official season, which is set to tip off on May 9th against the Portland Fire.<\/p>\n

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