The Chicago Sky have scarcely kept their playoff dreams alive with an impressive 86-97 victory over the LA Sparks which takes their regular season record to 4-10. Currently, the 'Windy City' franchise is 10th overall in the standings, three wins behind the Washington Mystics, but have played one less game.
Head coach Tyler Marsh will be hoping that momentum is starting to shift for the Sky after snapping its three-game losing streak. Despite their poor recent form, Chicago has won four of their last 10 games, and the team is starting to establish an offensive identity that could spark hope that the 2025 WNBA season is far from a foregone conclusion.
In addition to this, a certain skyscraper pairing has begun to stamp their authority during matchups on a consistent basis, which could be the foundation that Marsh could build upon to manufacture a winning formula in Chicago.
Kamilla Cardoso records a career-best scoring performance
Cardoso turned in a magnificent performance against the Sparks, registering a career-high 27 points while shooting 66.7 percent from the floor, alongside seven rebounds and three assists during her 30 minutes on the court. The Brazilian star posed an intimidating figure in the paint, bullying the opposition relentlessly to get to her spots and put points on the board for her team.
This is far from a one-off performance for Chicago's third overall selection in the 2024 draft, as she has now recorded 15+ points on six occasions this season. This upturn in Cardoso's scoring should come as no surprise to Sky fans who kept a keen eye on the center's offseason antics, which saw her average 20.2 points per matchup over 38 games for the Shanghai Sharks in the Chinese Basketball League.
Spectators can feel the growing confidence oozing out of Cardoso on the offensive end of the floor with the 24-year-old attempting—and sinking—her first three-point attempt of the season. What makes this scoring leap more impressive is that it has not affected the defensive prowess that the star possesses, as she registered two vital blocks against the Sparks.
Tyler Marsh will surely be looking to capitalize on the offensive dominance that the Brazilian has displayed on several occasions for the Sky. Cardoso could undoubtedly become the centerpiece of the head coach's playbook if she can continue to replicate these fearless performances.
Angel Reese's versatility continues to shine
With concerns over Reese's efficiency continually highlighted throughout her WNBA career so far, the Sky's rookie head coach has been tasked with finding a role in the franchise's game plan for the sophomore that will allow her to thrive. It appears the role that Marsh has carved for the star has accelerated her development in several areas.
The 23-year-old is currently resembling a Swiss-Army knife, after registering her first career triple-double in a 78-66 win over the Connecticut Sun, Reese has continued to stuff the stat sheet in every column. During the victory over Los Angeles, the 'point forward' registered 18 points, 17 rebounds, six assists, and four steals, highlighting how critical she has become in the future vision for Chicago.
Accusations of stat-padding to create a rebounding legacy should be dismissed when talking about the LSU graduate's most recent performance, with 12 of her 17 rebounds coming on the defensive end to the floor and acting as a trigger point to several devastating transition actions.
Much like A'ja Wilson on the Las Vegas Aces, the sophomore sensation is burdened with a high level of responsibility to lead her franchise in every aspect of the game. However, the Sky are a more dangerous prospect for the opposition when scoring duties are handed to players such as Cardoso and Ariel Atkins, allowing Reese to contribute in areas that will provide her teammates with a platform to win games.
Tyler Marsh and the Chicago Sky have a golden opportunity to build some much-needed momentum with the skyscraper pairing now performing at a higher level consistently. If the head coach can find an effective solution to their dreaded guard issues, then the franchise could still salvage this campaign.