Chicago Sky fans, brace yourselves. The future of your franchise rests on two towering young stars who might either dominate the WNBA or have fans yelling “why?!” at their TV screens every other possession. In one corner, we have Angel Reese, fresh off a 2024 All-Star appearance, despite occasionally struggling to hit the broad side of a barn. In the other, Kamilla Cardoso, who is slightly more efficient but isn’t exactly lighting up the scoreboard either.
After being drafted third and seventh respectively in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Reese and Cardoso have already been dubbed the “cornerstones” of the Chicago Sky by their new head coach, Tyler Marsh. Yes, that’s right, folks—two rookies are now the franchise’s foundation. No pressure, right?
Tyler Marsh: From Usher Concerts to Building a Contender
Marsh, who took over the coaching reins from Teresa Weatherspoon, recently held his first press conference as the Sky’s head coach. When asked about the Reese-Cardoso combo, Marsh gave a very coach-like response. “We want to continue to improve and figure out ways where they can score easily or they can still be effective defensively,” he said.
Translation: “Please, for the love of basketball, let’s get these two to score without turning into human turnstiles on defense.”
But it wasn’t all platitudes. Marsh seems to believe in their potential to develop into stars. “They are the cornerstones of this franchise,” he added, with the same confidence a parent uses when telling you your finger painting is “the best art ever!”
A Tale of Two Rookies: Stats Don’t Lie… Or Do They?
Let’s break down the rookie seasons of our new franchise saviors. Cardoso, the more efficient of the two, averaged 9.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and shot a respectable 52.1% from the field. Not too shabby, right? Meanwhile, Reese, whose rebounding numbers are frankly ridiculous at 13.1 per game, struggled with her shot all season long, making only 39.1% of her attempts. But hey, it was enough to land her an All-Star nod, and she came in second in Rookie of the Year voting behind—surprise, surprise—Caitlin Clark. Reese may not be lighting it up from the field, but she’s still a name that gets headlines (and jersey sales).
The good news? Reese and Cardoso can rebound like there’s no tomorrow. The bad news? If you’re hoping for highlight-reel dunks every other play, well… manage your expectations.
“Shooters Shoot” – Marsh’s Offensive Vision
Offense was also on Marsh’s mind during the press conference. He wants to see the Sky shoot, and shoot a lot. Given the team’s stats from last season, this might be a tall order. Chicago finished in the bottom half of the league in three-point shooting (32.3%) and second-to-last in overall field goal percentage (42.2%). But don’t worry, Marsh has a plan.
In his first conversation with Rachel Banham and Michaela Onyenwere, Marsh’s pep talk boiled down to: “Please, for the love of everything, just shoot with confidence.” Because really, what’s the worst that could happen? Missing more shots than last season? At this point, it’s almost impossible to go any lower. Unless you’re the Atlanta Dream, who somehow shot even worse (40.8%).
Expect a barrage of three-pointers next season. The Sky ranked third in field goal attempts but were dead last in three-point attempts per game. So, yes, more threes, less… well, whatever it was they were doing last season.
The Future of the Sky: Optimism Meets Reality
Will Reese and Cardoso become the dominant forces Marsh envisions, or will they leave Sky fans scratching their heads in frustration? Only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure: the future is going to be unpredictable, and maybe a little wild.
So buckle up, Chicago. You’re either in for a thrilling ride to the top of the WNBA or a season where you pray someone—anyone—can make an open jumper. Either way, it’s going to be a spectacle.
