The Chicago Sky had two first round picks in the 2024 WNBA Draft which they used to select Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese. Both players joined the Sky as highly decorated and hyped college stars with both having won national championships at South Carolina and LSU, respectively. Much of the attention surrounding the 2024 rookie class has centered around Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, but Cardoso recently took to social media to correct some of those narratives.
“I have one thing to say about this. All of our games are sold out,” Cardoso said. “So it's not because of one person. And goodbye, that was the last thing I'm going to say about this.”
Kamilla Cardoso has a point in that the Sky have seen strong attendance numbers early in the 2024 WNBA season and they have yet to play against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever. Angel Reese is a major draw herself. Overall, the 2024 rookie group has been making an immediate impact on the league.
Cardoso has yet to make her WNBA season debut as she's been sidelined due to a shoulder injury. But her teammate and fellow rookie Reese has helped jump-start the Sky. The Los Angeles Sparks have two impact rookies in Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson. Aaliyah Edwards has been off to a strong start for the Washington Mystics. And yes, Caitlin Clark has been making an impact for the Fever.
Angel Reese has proven she is ready for the WNBA
One of the questions surrounding Angel Reese when the Sky drafted her with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft was how ready she was going to be for the pro game. While there are definitely aspect of her game she can clean up, she's looked like one of the most pro ready rookies of this group.
The Sky have undergone radical changes to their roster over the past few seasons. Coming into the offseason, the only player that remained from the 2021 championship team was Dana Evans. The Sky recently brought back Diamond DeShields, who was also on that team, via free agency.
The team traded Kahleah Copper to the Phoenix Mercury and received Michaela Onyenwere and Brianna Turner in return. They also added former lottery pick Chennedy Carter as a free agent. Along with Evans, the only players that remain from last season's team are Marina Mabrey, Elizabeth Williams and Isabelle Harrison.
Along with a new head coach in Teresa Weatherspoon, the Sky have started the season off at 2-1. And Angel Reese has been a major factor in that start. She's started all three games so far and has averaged 12.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steals with splits of 33.3 percent shooting from the field and 58.3 percent shooting from the free-throw line.
While Reese's shooting percentages may be low and her foul rate rather high at 4.0 per game, she's brought a ton of energy and spark to the Sky to help make them competitive. It's still very early in the season, but Reese should certainly be in the conversation for the WNBA Rookie of the Year.
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