CHICAGO — The Chicago Sky are finalizing their roster for the start of the 2024 WNBA season. Chicago took Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso, and Brynna Maxwell with their 2024 draft picks. The team has made decisive moves on Maxwell and undrafted training camp rookie Taya Reimer ahead of the season's start.

Two Chicago Sky rookies get waived to form final roster 

After waiving Reimer from their roster on May 10th, the Sky are parting ways with Maxwell, the team announced on Monday morning. Maxwell joined the team as a second-round pick after an impressive tenure with the Gonzaga women's basketball team. She joined the Bulldogs in 2021 after three seasons with Utah.

Maxwell was a highly regarded college scorer with great long-range shooting ability. She averaged 14.2 points and shot 44.0 percent on three-pointers during her senior 2023-24 season. By the end of her collegiate career, Maxwell helped her teams make three total NCAA Tournament appearances.

Hopefully, she can find a professional opportunity elsewhere. Maxwell was one of several newcomers fighting for one of Chicago's final spots, but the team had to make the hard decision to waive her and Taya Reimer to finalize their depth chart. Like Maxwell, Reimer had a standout collegiate career.

Taya Reimer started her college basketball career with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in 2013. She had a promising freshman season and helped Notre Dame to a 2014 NCAA Tournament championship runner-up finish with a 79-58 loss to the UConn Huskies. One year later, the star forward saw a massive improvement.

Reimer averaged a collegiate career-high of 10.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game in 2014-15. As a result, she aided the Fighting Irish to another national title match. Yet, they unfortunately lost 63-52 to UConn for a second consecutive time.

Reimer spent one more year at Notre Dame but only played five games. She decided to transfer to Michigan State for her final two years of eligibility, where she held averages of 9.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks during her tenure. After losing in the first round of March Madness in 2016, Reimer ended her career on an honorable 19-24 season with MSU.

Since then, the highly touted forward has attempted to make a WNBA roster but has just missed the mark. She has bided her time playing overseas during her young professional career.

Reimer and Brynna Maxwell's departure is a stark reminder of how tough is to make a WNBA roster. Nevertheless, Chicago will proceed forward will their remaining talent.

Sky continue preparation for the start of the 2024 WNBA season 

Chicago looks to be keeping lottery picks Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso on the roster ahead of the regular season. The two stars saw great success on the collegiate level and should help elevate the team.

Ironically, Reese and Cardoso competed against each other growing up and had many battles in the SEC. Both bigs won a national title: Reese with the LSU Tigers in 2023 and Cardoso with the undefeated South Carolina Gamecocks in 2024. Their experience and interior abilities should bode well for the Sky.

Angel Reese made her WNBA preseason debut against the Minnesota Lyx on May 3rd, totaling 13 points, a team-high nine rebounds, two steals, and a block in a 92-81 loss. She also shot 90 percent on free throws (9 for 10).

Reese followed the game up with another promising showing in the Sky's dominating 101-53 May 7th win over the New York Liberty. She amassed 13 points, five rebounds, and two steals in 18 minutes of action. Reese's preseason activity is a positive sign for the Sky.

Meanwhile, Kamilla Cardoso's WNBA debut has been a bit bumpy. After playing 13 preseason minutes against the Lynx, Cardoso suffered a shoulder injury that is holding her out for four to six weeks. Hopefully, she will make a speedy recovery.

Taya Reimer and Brynna Maxwell will look for new opportunities, but there is no doubt they will be successful wherever they land.

All in all, great things lie ahead for a Sky team looking to climb the Eastern Conference standings.