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CHICAGO — The Chicago Sky have had a promising start to the 2024 WNBA season. Much of the team's success is owed to their stout frontcourt lineup featuring Angel Reese, Elizabeth Williams, and the returning Kamilla Cardoso. However, Chicago received a devastating injury update on Williams before their game against the Atlanta Dream on Saturday.
Williams landed awkwardly during the Sky's June 6th matchup against the Washington Mystics, which saw her exit the game beyond return. Chicago updated Williams' status after she dealt with nagging pain in her knee for two days.
“Chicago Sky center Elizabeth Williams is currently sidelined with a torn meniscus, an injury she sustained in the June 6 game at Washington. She is expected to undergo surgery and the team will provide medical updates as needed,” the team announced Saturday afternoon.
Hopefully, the veteran center will undergo a safe and speedy recovery. Williams has been a vital part of the Sky's two-way attack. Through nine games, she averaged 10.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, and 1.7 steals per game. The 30-year-old Duke product earned a Second Team All-Defensive selection for the Sky during the 2023 season and was a dark-horse Defensive Player of the Year candidate in 2024 before her meniscus injury.
Williams' impact on Chicago cannot be understated. Head coach Teresa Weatherspoon has sung her praises all season. She spoke about Williams' untimely injury before the Sky's matchup against the Atlanta Dream on Saturday.
“[Williams] has had an amazing season. It's an absolutely tough thing to hear, but we know E-Will. She's strong, powerful, confident. And we know she'll be okay. It's really next-man-up, and everybody has to be ready to play and play with the example that E-Will has set all season long,” Weatherspoon said.
Sky will lean on frontcourt depth amid devastating Elizabeth Williams injury
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Williams' absence hurts Chicago, but thankfully they retain stout frontcourt contributors. Teresa Weatherspoon told reporters that Kamilla Cardoso will take over Williams' starting center spot. Cardoso missed the first part of the season with a shoulder injury but has worked back into the rotation. The 2024 third overall draft pick averages 4.7 points and 5.3 rebounds in 15 minutes per game through three contests.
Weatherspoon said Kamilla Cardoso will still be on minutes reaction as she continues her ramp up. Therefore, Chicago will lean on Angel Reese and Isabelle Harrison to pick up more of the slack as well. Both forwards are coming off impressive performances.
Angel Reese shined her in her homecoming game against the Mystics on Thursday. She amassed 16 points, 11 rebounds, and a whopping five steals. Her inside scoring effort and elite rebounding will be huge for Chicago to continue to compete with the WNBA's other fierce frontcourts. Reese does not have to do it alone though.
Isabelle Harrison had her best performance of the season on Thursday. The 30-year-old forward notched 14 points and seven rebounds off the bench. She and Reese helped keep the Sky in the game after they went down by as many as 13.
As Teresa Weatherspoon said, Elizabeth Williams will stay strong through her recovery. It remains to be seen whether or not her surgery will be season-ending. Regardless, her mere presence will continue to help Chicago's frontcourt continue to be successful.
