Against the New York Liberty, on Saturday, May 29, a Chennedy Carter injury didn’t stop Atlanta’s four-game win streak. The point guard hyperextended her elbow and, while the team hasn’t given an official timetable on when she’ll return, an injury like this could take weeks to heal, depending on severity. Carter is second on the Dream in points (94), assists (21), and minutes played (156). Outside of statistics, she is one of the more aggressive members of the Dream backcourt. For the short term, Atlanta will have to fill the void. There are a few options available.
Like-for-Like
Now there aren’t many current players in the WNBA who can attack the basket like Carter. With that said, finding someone just like her on the Dream roster isn’t possible. There are roster options that bring different styles, in the short-term.
Odyssey Sims is the likeliest choice for interim head coach Mike Petersen. The eighth-year guard is not far removed from her 2019 all-star season. For Minnesota, she started all 34 games, averaging 31.9 minutes a game, 14.5 points per game, and 5.4 average assists. Her play isn’t all that different from Carter’s either. She’ll attack the rim more straightforward than Carter but will also pull up for mid-range and from three.
Sims gave birth to a child in April 2020, meaning that she missed a chunk of games played in the WNBA bubble season. After rejoining the Lynx in August, she started seven of 13 and averaged 18.5 minutes as she got back up to game fitness. This is a great opportunity to make future game decisions difficult for Petersen and the Dream. With more time on the court, she’ll have the opportunity to return to her 2019 form and make an already dangerous-looking Atlanta side even more dangerous when Carter returns.
Another option is in rookie guard Aari McDonald. Even if she doesn’t start over the veteran Sims, Carter’s time away will afford McDonald more minutes. So far, in 2021, she’s played just 61 minutes in five games but has had big impact moments. Her best performance came against Dallas where she scored nine points in under 10 minutes. Although she’s one of only four Dream players that haven’t logged at least 100 minutes on the court, she’s fifth on the team in assists, which is where she could make the biggest impact.
McDonald’s size, at 5’6, makes her one of the smaller guards in the league but she can make shots from three. If those shots can go consistently, it’ll open her ability to find shots for fellow guard Courtney Williams and threats in the paint like Elizabeth Williams and Monique Billings.
Even though it’s not likely that she’ll play more than Sims, Carter’s time away allows McDonald to get more comfortable in the WNBA.
Go Big
It’s early in the season, but Atlanta has played an aggressive, and small, game plan. Guard Tiffany Hayes played the small forward position, with Carter and Williams occupying the guard spots. Petersen could opt to start Williams and Hayes as guards, putting more size on the court. While Atlanta’s recent form has featured a surge of offense, they’re allowing the second-most points in the East (84.7). Only 1-8 Indiana are allowing more. Two options to fill in Chennedy Carter’s injury gap, and help improve their defense, are Billings and Crystal Bradford.
Last week, Beyond Women’s Sports highlighted Billings after her double-double against the Dallas Wings, but her contributions have been all season. After moving to a bench role, she only averages a point and rebound less than her 2020 production, in four fewer minutes per game. Her effort stretches to defense too. Billings timing on defensive shot-blocking has shown improvements from past seasons. She’s ranked fifth in the league at blocks (12) and blocks per game (2.0).
Bradford came out of seemingly nowhere. Before joining Atlanta in the 2021 offseason, she didn’t play in the WNBA for six years, after a one-year, 15-game, stint with Los Angeles. Since coming back into the WNBA, she has an infectious energy, on the court. Petersen plays her as a power forward off the bench, but that doesn’t stop her from doing it all.
She’ll set screens, steal the ball, shoot from distance, and cause havoc for opposing offenses. Putting her in as a starting forward would lessen the Dream’s offensive attack, but just about anyone will with Carter’s absence. Bradford will stop shots and disrupt opponents. Defensively, she’s the third-rated player in the league for average points per 100 possessions (90.9).
Regardless of how the Dream adapt to Chennedy Carter’s injury, the good thing for Atlanta is they have options. While other teams around the league have struggled, see Candace Parker’s time away from Chicago as a prime example, Atlanta may be able to continue their current momentum. The Chennedy Carter injury doesn’t have to cool down a team that’s playing hot.
Atlanta travels to Minnesota to play two against the Lynx. The first game tips off at 8:00 p.m ET and again Sunday at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Watch Beyond Women’s Sports all season for coverage of the WNBA, NWSL, and more. You can follow, and interact, with Thomas Costello on Twitter @1ThomasCostello.
