{"id":719347,"date":"2026-06-22T14:59:16","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T14:59:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/719347\/"},"modified":"2026-06-22T14:59:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T14:59:16","slug":"becky-hammon-shares-encouraging-update-on-chennedy-carters-return-to-aces-lineup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/719347\/","title":{"rendered":"Becky Hammon Shares Encouraging Update on Chennedy Carter\u2019s Return to Aces Lineup"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chennedy Carter\u2019s WNBA return came with a strong message: no matter the many issues that have impacted her career so far, she is one of the best scorers in the game. She scored 20 points in four of her first six games with the Las Vegas Aces.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Seeing the defending champions with a bench scorer like Carter was a scary vision<\/a>, but her stint in Las Vegas quickly took a turn. Carter missed a handful of games in early June with a leg injury, then played limited minutes against the Portland Fire and Minnesota Lynx, and has been out with an illness ever since.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Her absence due to illness, combined with some worrisome social media activity<\/a>\u2014Carter changed her Instagram bio and made comments about being on a \u201cleash\u201d with the Aces\u2014made many wonder if there was something more going on. That\u2019s still very much a possibility, but Hammon hinted at the chance of Carter returning to the lineup soon after a 92-73 win over the Golden State Valkyries.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI have to check in with her,\u201d Hammon said when asked about Carter\u2019s availability, per a stream of the postgame media availability<\/a> on the Aces\u2019 YouTube channel. \u201cI think she might be ready to go. We\u2019ll see how she\u2019s feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

While it\u2019s not a very definitive update and still leaves room for Carter to be ruled out again, it\u2019s more encouraging than if Hammon had just said that she didn\u2019t know if Carter would play or that it\u2019s unlikely that she will return soon. After not being with the team for a bit, Carter was on the Aces\u2019 bench against the Valkyries, which is also an encouraging sign.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Aces\u2019 guard rotation is thin at the moment\"Chennedy<\/p>\n

May 13, 2026; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; Las Vegas Aces guard Chennedy Carter (23) shoots the ball against the Connecticut Sun in the second half at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Carter isn\u2019t the only Aces guard currently sidelined. Dana Evans, who was a spark plug off the bench during last season\u2019s title run, hasn\u2019t been able to play at all yet this season, but could be back soon as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cDana is starting to ramp up her program, so I would say before the end of the month, she\u2019s looking to get back out on the court,\u201d Hammon said after the Valkyries game.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With both Carter and Evans out, the Aces rely heavily on Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, and Jewell Loyd to produce at the guard spots and play a ton of minutes. Gray and Young have played at least 32 minutes in all but one game this month, and Loyd has played between 23 and 31 minutes every game in June.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Moreover, the Aces rank dead last in bench points per game in June, sorely missing Carter\u2019s 14.4 points and ability to score pretty much at will. The team is still winning and has only lost one game all month, but getting Carter back and adding Evans into the mix would go a long way and make the Aces even more dangerous. Most importantly, it would ease the pressure on the stars to produce most of the Aces\u2019 offense.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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