Chicago Sky center Elizabeth Williams will miss the rest of the 2024 WNBA season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in her right knee. The injury occurred three weeks ago during a game against the Washington Mystics.
The news was confirmed Thursday on X, formerly Twitter, by Meghan L. Hall of USA Today.
Williams, a key player for the Sky, sustained the non-contact injury late in the second quarter of the game on June 6 against the Mystics. Despite attempting to play through the injury, she was ruled out at halftime. The team's medical staff later confirmed the need for surgical intervention, which will keep her sidelined for the remainder of the season.
Before the Sky’s game on June 8 against the Atlanta Dream, head coach Teresa Weatherspoon expressed uncertainty about the specifics of the surgery, whether it would involve repairing the meniscus or removing it entirely.
“It's absolutely a tough thing to hear, but we know (Williams) is strong, powerful, and confident. We know she’ll be OK, so it’s really next man up,” Weatherspoon said at the time, per Annie Costabile of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Williams, a 10-year WNBA veteran, has been a pivotal figure for the Sky this season. She was averaging 10 points, seven rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game before her injury.
With Williams out, the Sky will rely heavily on rookie Kamilla Cardoso, who recently returned from a shoulder injury that sidelined her for the first six games of the season. Cardoso stepped into the starting lineup in Williams' absence, scoring 13 points and grabbing five rebounds in 21 minutes against the Dream.
“Right now, I’m just trusting the process,” Cardoso said. “I’m coming back from my injury, so I haven’t had the best games of my career.”
The Sky's roster now stands at 11 available players, and they are unable to add another player unless their roster drops below 10 available players, which would allow them to sign a player to a hardship contract.
Sky rookie duo shines despite Elizabeth Williams injury setback
Despite the loss of Williams, the Sky are riding high on the momentum of their thrilling 88-87 victory over the Indiana Fever on Sunday. The rookie frontcourt duo of Cardoso and Angel Reese delivered standout performances to secure the win.
Cardoso, vocal about her partnership with Reese, expressed optimism about their future after the game.
“I’m so excited. I think our future is bright, and I’m so proud of her and everything she’s doing out here,” Cardoso said, per Christopher Smith of ClutchPoints.
Both Cardoso and Reese showcased their abilities against the Fever, each recording a double-double. Cardoso ended the game with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Reese added 25 points and 16 rebounds.
Reese, already making WNBA history with eight consecutive double-doubles, emphasized the importance of their matchup against the Fever for the growth of women's basketball.
“It's good for the game. Good for women's basketball. But also good for women's sports,” Reese said.
The June 23 game between the Sky and the Fever drew an average of 2.302 million viewers on ESPN, making it the most-watched WNBA game in 23 years. This comes on the coattails of the June 16 Fever/Sky game, which the Fever won 91-83. That game drew 2.25 million viewers on CBS, also setting a 23-year high.
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