The Chicago Sky had a tough game with some bad shooting, but it gave a glimpse of the future for the franchise. WNBA The team welcomed new, young talent as the franchise moves forward. On Friday in Minnesota, the team's two top draft picks made their debut. Sky—Kamilla Cardoso, the No. 3 pick, and the No. 7 pick, Angel Reese, Angel Reeseplayed together for the first time.
They used to play against each other in the SEC, where Cardoso was with South Carolina and Reese was with LSU.
They made their debut in the preseason with the Sky in Minnesota. Although the results were mixed, the two connected on a scoring play that got attention, with the team posting a replay on Twitter/X.
The tagline read, “S-E-C! S-E-C! S-E-C!”
Dwyane Wade, a legend and partial owner of the Sky since last year, reposted with a NBA warning to the rest of the league : “Just the beginning!” with a sunglasses emoji following.Angel Reese Starts in Debut
Just the beginning! 😎 https://t.co/sDebmb22wS
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) May 4, 2024
In the opener, Reese started for the Sky and played 24 minutes. She scored 13 points with nine rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot. She struggled with shooting, going 2-for-7, but was 9-for-10 from the free-throw line.
Cardoso came off the bench and fell hard on her right shoulder in the first half. She didn't play the second half. She scored six points on 3-for-5 shooting, including the finish on Reese’s pass. She added four rebounds and two blocks in 13 minutes on the floor.
After the game, Minnesota coach Teresa Witherspoon, who was also making her franchise debut, said that Cardoso was not badly injured and could have returned, but was kept from returning out of an abundance of caution.
“Heart of a lion,” she said, per the Minnesota Post.
“Didn’t want to come out, but we had to protect her. She’ll be fine.”Chicago Sky Rebuilding Under Teresa Witherspoon Wade seems to be right—this should be just the beginning for a Sky team trying to get back to the top of the league. The team had a tough year and lost their coach and general manager, James Wade, last July.
The Sky brought in Teresa Witherspoon from the staff of the New Orleans Pelicans of the NBA to take over.
The Sky, who won a WNBA championship in 2021, are now trying to rebuild their team around the Reese-Cardoso pairing after trading away three-time All-Star Kahleah Copper to Phoenix in the offseason. This move got them the Cardoso pick. They also traded up to get Reese at No. 7.
It’s not a big surprise that Angel
Reese made the starting lineup ahead of Cardoso since Cardoso was considered more of a long-term project, with her size—she is 6 feet 7 inches—being her most enticing attribute.
Reese, too, despite her college success, needs some work as a pro, but her star power and potential are clear. Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso played their first games of the preseason for the Chicago Sky, and owner Dwyane Wade gave a cautionary message. the starting lineup ahead of Cardoso, who was always considered more of a long-term project, with her size—she is 6-foot-7—being her most tantalizing attribute.
Reese, too, despite her collegiate success, is a bit of a project when it comes to being a pro, but her star power and potential are obvious.
