As the regular season winds down to its final three days, the race for the last playoff spot has intensified, and the Chicago Sky are right in the thick of it.
If only the team wants to boost their chances of making the final eight, they must secure a win against their direct rival, the Atlanta Dream, on Tuesday night. However, a cloud hangs over the team’s prospects with uncertainty surrounding Kamilla Cardoso’s participation in the game.
Sky fans were already on edge when Kamilla Cardoso saw limited playtime against the Phoenix Mercury in their previous match. With the crucial game against the Atlanta Dream just 48 hours later, there were hopes of Cardoso being back to full strength. Unfortunately, as of now, the rookie’s availability for the Tuesday matchup remains uncertain, leaving fans anxiously awaiting news on her status.
The Chicago Tribune reporter, Julia Poe, shared an update on Cardoso’s injury on her X. She tweeted, “Kamilla Cardoso is listed as questionable again for tomorrow’s game in Atlanta. Cardoso was pulled midway through yesterday’s loss to the Mercury due to a lingering shoulder injury. She was listed as questionable on Saturday after also showing discomfort in Friday’s game.”
The 23-year-old center did see some action against the Mercury, but she played just nine minutes, all of which came in the first half. She was benched for the entire second half. With the Sky’s loss in that crucial game, head coach Teresa Weatherspoon herself addressed the bold decision to bench the rookie during such a pivotal moment in their playoff chase.
Teresa Weatherspoon explained the reason behind benching Kamilla Cardoso
Following the Sky’s narrow 93-88 defeat to the Mercury at Wintrust Arena, head coach Teresa Weatherspoon fielded a flurry of questions at the post-game press conference, starting with concerns about Cardoso’s limited playing time. Weatherspoon addressed the issue and said, “Yes. Her health is more important to me than anything. And when we spoke, that’s what she was feeling. It’s more important to make sure that she’s healthy.”
Even with Cardoso’s vital role, especially in the absence of star rookie Angel Reese, limiting her play was a precautionary measure to prevent further injury. The decision was a strategic one, given Cardoso’s discomfort after the Lynx game.
The South Carolina excelled against the Minnesota Lynx with 16 points and 10 rebounds, appearing untroubled during the game. Despite no immediate injury updates, later reports suggested she wasn’t fully healthy, raising concerns about her future availability. However, she did take the court against the Mercury, but things didn’t go nicely. Cardoso reportedly informed Coach Teresa Weatherspoon about playing through significant pain, leading to her being benched for the entire second half.
Now with the Chicago Sky facing a critical game against the Atlanta Dream, who stand 13-25, the same as the Sky, Chennedy Carter stands to bear a huge load.
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