Aces Roster Shakeup
Las Vegas Aces Waive Productive Scorer Chennedy Carter, Adding Justine Pissott for Season's Stretch
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Key Points
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Carter has battled a string of injuries and illness that disrupted her season, including an ankle injury in her rookie year, an elbow injury that sidelined her for a month, a left‑leg injury that caused a three‑game absence, and illness that sidelined her at other times.
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Carter’s career has been marked by disciplinary issues and suspensions that contributed to unstable stints with teams, including a 2021 suspension by the Dream for conduct detrimental to the team and a 2023 waiver by the Sparks after a disciplinary suspension.
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Justine Pissott is the No. 25 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft and had been on a development contract with Indiana; the Aces tendered an offer sheet, Indiana declined to match, making Pissott Las Vegas’ rest‑of‑season addition.
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Carter was an efficient bench scorer for Las Vegas this season, averaging 12.2 points on approximately 60% shooting in limited minutes, underscoring why her waiver surprised many observers.
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Carter’s journeyman career through four franchises includes a trade to the Los Angeles Sparks in 2022 and a career‑high 17.5 PPG for the Chicago Sky in 2024, illustrating the volatility that has followed her since entering the league in 2020.
The Las Vegas Aces waived guard Chennedy Carter and signed rookie Justine Pissott to a regular-season contract, ending Carter's 12-week stint with the team, according to USA Today. The move came ahead of the league's cut-down deadline — 5 p.m. ET — when non-guaranteed contracts become fully guaranteed. Carter's deal was worth $277,500 at the veteran minimum.
Carter had been one of Las Vegas' most productive bench players, averaging 12.2 points on roughly 60% shooting in limited minutes. Her departure surprised many observers. It also continued a career-long pattern of short, troubled stints across the league, Rolling Out noted.
Injuries and Off-Court Issues Eroded Carter's Role
Carter's 12 weeks with the Aces were far from smooth. She dealt with an ankle injury, a left-leg injury that caused a three-game absence, and illness that sidelined her at other points, according to USA Today. Each setback reduced her role on a team still competing for a title.
A social-media flare-up also drew attention late in her time with Las Vegas. The combination of health problems and off-court noise made it easier for the Aces to move on before the deadline locked in her contract, Central Oregon Daily reported.
Carter's Career: Four Teams, Four Messy Exits
Carter entered the WNBA in 2020 as the No. 4 overall pick. Since then she has bounced through four franchises under difficult terms. The Atlanta Dream suspended her in 2021 for conduct detrimental to the team. The Los Angeles Sparks traded for her in 2022, then waived her in 2023 after another disciplinary suspension, per USA Today.
She bounced back with the Chicago Sky in 2024, posting a career-high 17.5 points per game. That run earned her a shot with Las Vegas. But the Aces are now her fourth team to part ways with her under strained circumstances, according to Yahoo Sports.
Pissott Steps In From Indiana's Development Roster
Justine Pissott is the No. 25 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. She played college ball at Texas A&M. Before joining Las Vegas, she was with Indiana on a developmental deal. The Aces tendered an offer sheet, and Indiana declined to match it, Central Oregon Daily reported.
Pissott is now expected to contribute for Las Vegas down the stretch of the season. She slides into the roster spot Carter vacated. The Aces made the move to manage their contracts cleanly before the deadline, Rolling Out noted.
Carter Now a Free Agent, Contenders Could Come Calling
Carter is now an unrestricted free agent. Any team can sign her immediately. Her scoring ability — 12.2 points per game on 60% shooting this season alone — makes her an attractive option for contenders seeking offensive depth off the bench, according to Yahoo Sports.
Interest from several franchises has already been noted. For Carter, it is another chance to stabilize a career defined by flashes of brilliance and recurring disruption. She has averaged at least double digits in scoring during multiple seasons but has yet to stay with a single team for more than two years.
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