Kamilla Cardoso reintegrating while injuries pile up for Sky

Since second-year center Kamilla Cardoso returned from the FIBA AmeriCup tournament — for which she missed four games — Sky coach Tyler Marsh has been urging her to reassert herself and be aggressive.

“We’re finding ways to make sure she’s comfortable within the offense and understands how big of a part she is, scoring-wise and facilitating-wise,” Marsh said.

Cardoso’s trip interrupted a strong run in June, when she averaged 13.8 points on 59.5% shooting. Since returning, she has averaged 10.7 points on 46.2% shooting.

Marsh said it sometimes can be a challenge to get Cardoso and forward Angel Reese going simultaneously because they tend to score from similar spots on the court. That’s part of the reason they’ve been pushing Reese to attack more from the perimeter — to create space for Cardoso, as well. The duo will have to wait, though, with Reese sidelined by a leg injury.

In the meantime, Cardoso’s rebounding has picked up. She’s averaging 8.6 boards since returning, up from 6.8 before she left. That’s a welcome boost for a team that has struggled with defensive rebounding — an issue that was exacerbated during her absence.

Cardoso helped lead Brazil to a silver medal at the AmeriCup tourney. She called the experience of playing for longtime WNBA coach Pokey Chatman “amazing,” noting that Chatman “understood the vision right away.”

Shaq defends Reese

On the “Off the Record” podcast Tuesday, Shaquille O’Neal had strong words for former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III, who had been ranting about Reese online.

Griffin reposted a racist edit of the 2K26 video-game cover featuring Reese, claiming he was trying to call out racism.

“RGIII, tweet another monkey post about my girl Angel Reese, and I’m gonna punch you in your [expletive] face,” O’Neal said. “It’s enough. Like, I don’t usually do stuff like this, but just stop it, bro.”

Griffin’s commentary went so far off the rails, it eventually prompted a public rebuke from Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. Among his claims: that he had inside knowledge that Reese hates Caitlin Clark and that she had shared a video that hurt his image.

Reese denied the accusations on social media, and O’Neal backed her up on the podcast.

“That’s not real hate,” O’Neal said of Reese and Clark. “You look around at what’s going on in this real country, that’s hate. This is sports, I’m not supposed to like you.”

O’Neal and Reese have a longstanding relationship from their LSU connection, and O’Neal is now president of Reebok, which recently released Reese’s first signature shoe.

Injury bug

The Sky were without their two best players Wednesday against the Dream. Marsh described Reese’s absence as more “precautionary,” while guard Ariel Atkins is still day-to-day and will be reevaluated after the All-Star break.

Marsh wasn’t sure how Atkins’ injury occurred — only that it’s in the calf or lower leg. She exited the game Monday after halftime and didn’t return.

Reese has been managing leg discomfort and heavy minutes since late June. Marsh said she should be OK for the All-Star Game on Saturday in Indianapolis but that she’s also taking it day by day.

Opposing praise

Dream coach Karl Smesko, who’s in his first WNBA season and had led the team to a 12-9 record entering Wednesday, offered high praise for Marsh before the game.

“Watching Chicago, they look like the most improved team in the league from the beginning of the year,” Smesko said. “I give coach Marsh a lot of credit.”

After a slow start that got worse with Courtney Vandersloot’s injury, the Sky have stabilized. Marsh has continued to preach patience and the long view, and the locker room hasn’t fractured.