CHICAGO — The Chicago Sky are putting in a strong effort at the start of the 2024 WNBA season with great things lying in wait. Kamilla Cardoso is preparing to make her regular season debut after an injury setback. In addition, talented forward Diamond DeShields is finally healthy and stoutly contributing to Chicago. Teresa Weatherspoon spoke on the impact of gathering a fully healthy team before Tuesday night's Storm game.
Sky finding optimism in team's health
Kamilla Cardoso made her Sky preseason debut against the Minnesota Lynx on May 3rd. The 6'7″ center scored six points and grabbed four boards. She was limited to just 13 minutes of action after she suffered a shoulder injury that saw her miss roughly a month. Cardoso targeted a June 1st return, so fans may see her in action against the Indiana Fever that same Saturday or shortly after. Teresa Weatherspoon displayed her enthusiasm for Cardoso's return and noted the rookie's positive spirit.
“We're super excited to have her on the court and the smiles she's having right now. She puts a big smile on our face just because she's out there and she's pain free. And that's the most important thing,” Weatherspoon said before Tuesday night's Storm game.
Kamilla Cardoso arrived in Chicago as the third overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. Her stout two-way interior presence will significantly boost the Sky. Cardoso is a collegiate national champion and wants to help Chicago climb the Eastern Conference. Yet, the rookie is not the only one who is healthy and making an impact.
Diamond DeShields was sidelined during the 2023 season from a serious knee injury. Before that, she battled a lengthy recovery period from a spinal tumor and nerve damage that followed its removal. But now, she is healthy and helping Chicago on both sides of the floor. Weatherspoon found significant meaning in DeShields' journey and looked ahead to great things from her.
“She puts in the work, trusts her training. She knows what she's been through, and she's a story for everyone to pay attention to. For her to say she's pain free…we know we're doing the right thing to keep her healthy,” Weatherspoon said. [A pain-free DeShields has] a free mind to play. When you get those kinds of athletes, you're gonna get something [special].”
Diamond DeShields averages 9.8 points and a whopping 2.3 steals through four games. Chicago needs her two-way leadership to compete against the best in the WNBA. DeShields will only get better as she continues to regain her rhythm.
The Sky as a whole want to build momentum as well. Weatherspoon spoke on the direction the team sees itself going in amid a culture revamp.
Sky want to make their mark in the Chicago, WNBA
The Sky have had no shortage of success during their 18-year franchise tenure. Chicago won the 2021 WNBA Finals under the leadership of Candace Parker, Courtney Vandersloot, and Kahleah Copper.
However, the team went through a transition period in the years that followed, which led Teresa Weatherspoon to pick up the head coaching job ahead of the 2024 season along with exciting roster changes. Weatherspoon and the Sky want to add to the franchise's resume as well as the general Chicago sports landscape.
“We just want to complement the tremendous [Chicago] sports history. As the Sky, [we're not] competing against but complementing it,” Weatherspoon shared.
In terms of team culture, Weatherspoon is confident about Chicago's outlook.
“It's really the buy-in you get to how we want to play, how we want to conduct ourselves. You know, they just buy into the little things, it makes it a little bit easier.” the head coach claimed.
Hopefully, the Sky can continue to mesh and find success amid an exciting period.
Follow Us
Subscribe