Kamilla Cardoso drops 22 as Sky stun Liberty to end five-game losing streak

Kamilla Cardoso powered the Chicago Sky to a much-needed 91-85 upset win over the defending champion New York Liberty on Thursday, ending the Sky’s five-game skid.

Cardoso, who also reached a career-rebound landmark of 500, delivered a dominant performance with 22 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists, while Chicago capitalized on its inside presence, outscoring New York 52-26 in the paint and holding a 42-27 edge on the boards.

The Sky shot an efficient 50 percent from the field compared to the Liberty’s 41.7 percent.

Angel Reese, making just her second appearance since returning from a back injury, made a strong impact with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Ariel Atkins chipped in 19 points, and Michaela Onyenwere added 13 to help Chicago (9-26) snap a rough stretch in which it had dropped 13 of its previous 14 contests.

New York (22-14) was led by Jonquel Jones, who scored a game-high 25 points, including 5-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc. Sabrina Ionescu contributed 16 points but struggled from distance, going 0-for-5 on threes, while Natasha Cloud had 14 points. The Liberty, missing seven-time All-Star Breanna Stewart for the 10th straight game due to a bone bruise in her right knee, fell to 14-5 at home. Stewart has vowed to return before her 31st birthday next week.The game was tightly contested until the closing minutes. With the score tied at 85, Chicago scored the final eight points, sealed by free throws from Atkins and Reese. New York faltered down the stretch, missing all four of its field-goal attempts in the final two minutes and committing a costly turnover.

Chicago improved to 1-2 against New York this season and 4-13 on the road.