In a noteworthy display, Chicago Sky rookies Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso exhibited their developing on-court chemistry in last night’s matchup against the Washington Mystics. The Sky, holding a 4-5 record, emerged victorious against the league’s bottom-ranked team, clinching a 79-71 win primarily due to Reese’s outstanding performance.
Despite the recent controversy surrounding Reese and the Chicago Sky after the intense game against the Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark last Saturday – marked by a notable shoulder bump to Clark – Reese has continued to showcase her immense potential. Her teammate, Kamilla Cardoso, who was selected early in the draft (3rd overall) and is a two-time NCAA champion with the South Carolina Gamecocks, also stood out.
Reese and Cardoso, especially Reese, excelled against the Mystics. A series of plays, including assists from Cardoso and points from Reese, emphasized their strong understanding and developing chemistry, anticipated to enhance as the season progresses. This dynamic duo has the potential to achieve remarkable feats, given their high draft selections and impressive abilities. Reese delivered her most exceptional professional performance yet, registering a double-double with 16 points, 11 rebounds, 5 steals, and 3 assists. This showing made her the first rookie since 2008 to achieve 15+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 5+ steals in a game, a feat previously accomplished by Tamika Catchings while playing for Indiana.
Such rookie connections and veteran-like displays are certainly something Caitlin Clark would envy in Indiana. Clark’s tough start, with a 2-9 record for the Fever, sharply contrasts with Reese and Cardoso’s success, even though they also hold a losing record of 4-5. Indiana has a prime opportunity to boost their morale tonight at 6:30pm ET against the winless Mystics, who are playing in consecutive games. This matchup could serve as a pivotal momentum builder before their challenging Monday game against the Connecticut Sun, the league’s leading team, which previously challenged Clark in her debut game.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Reese and Cardoso, whose synergy could propel the Chicago Sky to new heights and secure back-to-back victories for the second time this season as they face the Atlanta Dream tomorrow. Their performance against the Mystics offers a mere glimpse of the potential this rookie duo holds for the future.
