Cardoso Out, Diggins Sidelined Again as Chicago Face Seattle

The Chicago Sky hosted the Seattle Storm at Wintrust Arena on Wednesday without both Skylar Diggins and Kamilla Cardoso, after the official WNBA injury report filed on July 14 listed Diggins as out with a right knee injury and Cardoso as questionable with the same right knee issue. Cardoso was subsequently ruled out before tip-off, missing her first game of the 2026 season.

The Sky's Injury Report vs. Storm

Three Chicago players appeared on the report for Wednesday's noon ET tip-off. Diggins was out, her fourth consecutive absence since her right knee flared in early July, compounding an already tense situation after she was informed she would come off the bench. DiJonai Carrington remained out as she continued recovering from left foot surgery, yet to play a single minute of the 2026 season. Cardoso, who had started every game for the Sky before Wednesday, was ruled out in the hours before tip-off.

The WNBA official game page confirmed a 12:00 p.m. ET start at Wintrust Arena. For viewers in India, the game converted to a 9:30 p.m. IST tip on Prime Video. Regional broadcast coverage in the United States ran on the U network, CW Seattle, and Amazon Prime Video.

Kamilla Cardoso: Status and Season Numbers

Cardoso is the Sky's most productive active player by most measures. Her official WNBA profile and Basketball Reference both list her 2026 averages at 14.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game across 23 appearances, all starts, on 58.4% shooting from the field.

She had been producing at a high level through the first two weeks of July. In the Sky's 96-91 road loss at Dallas on July 12, she recorded 12 points and 13 rebounds on 6-of-12 shooting, held below her season averages primarily by the interior defensive work of Wings center Li Yueru. Across her four July outings heading into Wednesday, she averaged 13.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.0 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game.

With Cardoso ruled out, Elizabeth Williams took on expanded duties at center, with Gabriela Jaquez and Maddy Westbeld absorbing additional minutes.

Skylar Diggins: Out with No Return Timetable

Diggins last played on July 3 against the Las Vegas Aces, scoring 19 points in an overtime loss. Her right knee flared ahead of the team's July 7 road game in Phoenix, the same period in which coach Tyler Marsh informed her she would come off the bench, ending a streak of 341 consecutive career starts, a figure reported by multiple outlets covering the team. On July 6, she posted on Instagram: "Now I'm coming off the bench?????? Cool."

She spoke to the Chicago Sun-Times about the situation, telling reporter Alissa Hirsh: "It just seems like a basketball decision." She also noted she had undergone knee surgery in October and had not received clarity on her standing with the team since arriving in April. At a July 15 press conference, Marsh said the right knee remained without a public return timeline.

Diggins signed with Chicago on April 11, 2026, in a move confirmed by the Chicago Sky's official release. Her season averages, per her official WNBA player profile, sit at 14.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game across 19 games.

General manager Jeff Pagliocca has stayed active heading into the August 2 trade deadline, per reporting on the team's roster situation, with the deadline confirmed on the WNBA's official key dates page. The uncertainty around Diggins' role has drawn attention given the looming deadline, though no confirmed deal has been reported as of the July 14 injury filing.

Chicago's Depleted Roster

Chicago's injury situation has been building through the season. Rickea Jackson, who had been the team's leading scorer, tore the ACL in her left knee in May and is out for the year. Carrington has not appeared in a game since suffering a left foot injury in the 2025 playoffs, and as of July 14 her return remained without a firm date. Courtney Vandersloot, back from her own ACL recovery in June, has played limited minutes on a managed schedule.

Chicago has leaned heavily on Cardoso and two breakout contributors in the interim: Sydney Taylor, an undrafted rookie who has scored in double figures in nine of her ten appearances since entering the starting lineup and Azura Stevens, who put up 18 points and 13 rebounds in the July 12 loss to Dallas.

Chicago's WNBA standings page showed the Sky at 7-16, ranked 13th in the league, heading into Wednesday's game. The Seattle Storm entered at 6-19, 15th overall, with their own absences on the report, including Ezi Magbegor (not with the team) and Taina Mair (coach's decision).

After the Final Whistle

Chicago won 95-90. The pre-game question of whether Cardoso would play was answered before tip-off when she was ruled out, her first missed game of the season. With Diggins' knee still without a recovery timeline and the trade deadline on August 2 at 3:00 p.m. ET, the Sky's next move is less clear than the final score.