Becky Hammon Addresses Chennedy Carter's Absence in Aces-Wings Game
The Las Vegas Aces' six-game winning streak came to an abrupt end on Monday as they suffered a 30-point blowout loss to Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings, and the absence of star guard Chennedy Carter played a major role in the defeat.
Carter was one of the driving forces behind the Aces' impressive start to the season and ranked as the team's second-leading scorer behind A'ja Wilson before a leg injury sidelined her for multiple games.
The 27-year-old returned last week against the Portland Fire and also appeared in Las Vegas' 100-97 victory over the Minnesota Lynx, though she was limited to eight minutes in both contests. However, she was then unexpectedly ruled out for Monday's game against the Wings with a "Not With Team -- Illness" designation.
Given Carter's career trajectory, some fans were concerned about whether everything was well between her and the organization. Fortunately for the Aces, head coach Becky Hammon cleared the air during her pregame media availability.
"Asked Becky about this pregame, said Chennedy woke up not feeling well so she didn't make the trip. She'll be re-evaluated 'in a couple of days', which *could* mean she'll be out for Wednesday's game against the Mercury too, but we'll see," wrote Yahoo Sports' Nekias Duncan on X.
Carter, who spent last season playing in China after going unsigned in the WNBA, signed a one-year, $277,500 contract with the Aces. Although Las Vegas entered the season as the defending WNBA champions, the team needed a guard capable of consistently attacking the basket, and Carter has delivered exactly that.
She is averaging 14.4 points per game, third-most on the team and the highest mark among all WNBA bench players, along with 2.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.0 steals in 10 appearances. She is also shooting an impressive 61.5% from the field and 52.6% from three-point range.
The Aces have largely managed well without Carter, with Jackie Young stepping up offensively and scoring at least 16 points in each of the previous five games before Monday's 96-66 loss to Dallas.
Veteran guard Jewell Loyd led Las Vegas with 21 points against the Wings, while Wilson added 18 points, five rebounds, and two assists. No other Aces player reached double figures in scoring.
Dallas, meanwhile, was led by Arike Ogunbowale, who finished with 22 points and seven assists. Four other Wings players also scored in double figures, including Bueckers.
The loss dropped the Aces to 10-4 on the season, though they remain firmly in control of second place in the Western Conference. They will look to bounce back and strengthen their position when they visit the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday.
Related: WNBA Legend Candace Parker Comments on Chennedy Carter Rant
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This story was originally published June 16, 2026 at 4:30 AM.