Chennedi Carter is once again delivering an outstanding performance in the Chinese Women’s Basketball Association (WCBA). She leads the league in scoring, averaging 30.9 points per game while shooting an impressive 52.8 percent from two-point range. Beyond her scoring ability, Carter contributes significantly to her team, the Shanghai Swordfish, by grabbing 6 rebounds and providing 4.9 assists per game. This high level of play is not new for Carter, who was named WCBA Player of the Year last year.
Although Carter has been absent from the WNBA since the 2024 season, during which she was the top scorer for the Chicago Sky with averages of 17.5 points and 3.1 assists per game, she did not sign with a WNBA team for the following season. Instead, she played for the Mexican club Adelitas de Chihuahua and has spent recent offseasons competing in China.
Carter’s time in the WNBA was clouded by off-court issues. After being drafted fourth overall in 2020, she spent two seasons with the Atlanta Dream before being suspended in 2021 for “conduct detrimental to the team.” She later joined the Los Angeles Sparks, but was reportedly benched in 2022 due to “poor conduct.” Despite her strong 2024 performance, the Chicago Sky chose not to extend a qualifying offer to her for the 2025 season, leaving questions about why she remains unsigned by any WNBA team.
This season, other WNBA players such as Temi Fagbenle, Misha Hines-Allen, and Tiffany Mitchell have also made significant impacts in China, but Carter clearly sets herself apart with her consistent and dominant play. At just 27 years old, she still possesses the talent to compete in the WNBA, yet her success continues exclusively abroad for now.
Fan Take: Carter’s stellar play in China highlights both her undeniable talent and the ongoing challenges she faces in the WNBA system. For fans, her story is a reminder of the untapped potential that could elevate the league if players like her find a supportive environment to thrive in.
