HENDERSON, Nev. -- Chennedy "Hollywood" Carter's Instagram caption on April 15 seemed like the tease of a storybook she was excited to author:
"Hollywood x Vegas - perfect fit."
Apparently not.
The Las Vegas Aces parted ways with Carter on Tuesday, bringing an end to a relationship that started with the enigmatic guard emerging as the frontrunner for the Sixth Player of the Year award, but fizzled the last several weeks after dealing with injuries and limited playing time.
In a corresponding move, the Aces signed rookie guard Justine Pissott to a rest-of-season contract after she received an offer sheet from the team earlier that morning.
Pissott was selected No. 25 overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft but did not appear in a regular-season game for the Indiana Fever.
Carter, meanwhile, averaged 12.2 points during her time with the Aces, but just 4.1 points over her last six games. She averaged 19.1 points in the team's first seven games.
Now, I stand by my claim from May 28, when I wrote in this very space, "there was no better landing spot than the defending champion Las Vegas Aces."
I said it was the perfect spot for anyone with the right mindset, looking for a championship vibe inside a locker room loaded with experience and positive vibes.
Guess not.
Aces’ head coach Becky Hammon would not say why the team released Chennedy Carter, but gave insight on what kind of players she wants on her roster to win another championship #WNBA #Aces
Q: @_brandyflores pic.twitter.com/8o65Wyo8EO
— ESPN 1100/100.9 FM (@ESPNLasVegas) July 10, 2026
No Such Thing As Perfect
Perhaps the writing was on the wall when she told me during an exclusive interview with Ballislife, "I'm still obviously young in my career, looking for a home, looking for somewhere that I can be an established player. I can't just say when I sign somewhere, it's the perfect fit for me. But as of right now, it's looking good."
Her demeanor that day didn't strike a chord, but it was a bit off. Maybe she was tired of being asked similar questions about how she fit in, and playing alongside presumably future Hall of Famers A'ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young and Jewell Loyd.
What I did see in front of closed doors was that quartet and the rest of the roster embracing Carter on and off the court, welcoming her into the sanctity of what's become a player-first culture.
Behind closed doors, nobody knows a thing. The Aces headquarters is as locked down as Nellis Air Force Base in nearby North Las Vegas.
Which is why, when she removed the Aces from her Instagram bio on June 15 and added "FREE AGENT," we knew there was more going on with the controversial guard.
She later returned the defending champion's name to her bio, while missing a trip with the team due to an illness. Multiple sources told Ballislife that Carter's "illness" stemmed from a minor procedure she was recovering from, and would keep her from playing until the pain subsided.
Carter was back on the sidelines, in street clothes, until she returned to the lineup on June 28. Three games later, she was a free agent.
It's become a common theme for the journeywoman, who has now played in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago and Las Vegas.
Free Agent
And once again, all but one of her social media channels are rid of the Aces. Her Cameo account, where people can pay her for shout-outs, still reads "LAS VEGAS ACES."
She's seemingly cut ties with all but two of her former teammates on Instagram, following only Brianna Turner and Cheynne Parker-Tyus.
Right after Carter was cut, the TikTok account @shethesalon posted a video of Carter with the caption: "I asked Chennedy to give my baby girl some support and encouraging words a few weeks ago and she did. We are heartbroken!"
During the video, Carter says, "Keep going, keep grinding. Believe in yourself, don't believe in the bullsh--. Tune out the noise, stay locked in. Work on your craft, keep God first."
Strong words to abide by, if Carter knows what's good for her.
The fan's TikTok caption continued, "I hope somebody picks her up soon! We love watching her play."
So, where might the 5-foot-9 guard's next stop be?
That depends, since accepting a backup role and a one-year, non-guaranteed contract with the Aces didn't jive well.
Nevertheless, here are three options:
Los Angeles Sparks
Carter isn't replacing Kelsey Plum once the two-time WNBA champion returns from injury, so let's relax those thoughts. But if Carter could accept a shooting-guard role and play within coach Lynne Roberts' system—something that would have to be crystal clear from jump—it's something to ponder for a team that has to find a way to be more consistent on offense.
They also need help defensively, and Carter could be a menace to opponents. The Sparks are a guard-heavy team already, so someone would have to go. This would come down to whether or not Roberts and Carter's personalities would blend, and if respect, minus tantrums, would be shown toward the coach.
New York Liberty
This might sound the most ludicrous, considering how talented this is already, but of the five true guards listed on the roster, only three are receiving substantial playing time. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton is listed as a guard-forward, but recent DNPs—did not play—in the final book have raised some eyebrows. True, if first-year coach Chris DeMarco can't find a way to get Laney-Hamilton more minutes, how would that translate to Carter, who was clearly unhappy with her minutes in Las Vegas.
But if he sees an energetic guard who can push the pace while Sabrina Ionescu and Marine Johannès are on the bench catching her breath, perhaps there's a way to convince Carter that her fit is as a role player. It's a tough sell, I know, and a long stretch of the imagination. But it's an interesting theory.
Toronto Tempo
Coach Sandy Brondello's group was looking good, as the expansion Tempo appeared to be a team that could contend for a playoff spot. Truth is, they have plenty of time. The question is, how long will the team be missing Kiki Rice and Brittney Sykes? There is only much scoring Marina Mabrey can do, and the thought of reuniting the veteran who was just named an All-Star with Carter could work.
The two played together in Chicago before Mabrey was shipped to Connecticut the day after the Sky beat the Aces in Las Vegas, just before the All-Star break in 2024. Mabrey is someone who knows how to facilitate and could be an ally for Carter, while being the perfect liaison for Brondello. Both Mabrey and Carter have identical abilities of scoring, playmaking and competitiveness, which the Tempo need while Rice and Sykes are healing up.
Other Considerations: The Seattle Storm and Connecticut Sun could benefit from someone like Carter, but it's hard to imagine her accepting a role for the 14th and 15th place teams if she can land a roster spot with a team that has a legitimate chance at making a playoff run.
W.G. Ramirez is a veteran sports writer from Las Vegas and a Senior Staff Writer at Ballislife.com. Follow him on X at @WillieGRamirez.