The WNBA is all set to witness some fresh faces in the league as the 2024 WNBA draft day has arrived. And Chicago Sky has already welcomed two members into the franchise. Sky had two picks—3 and 7—in the first round of the draft. While South Carolina star Kamilla Cardoso got picked 3rd by the franchise, Angel Reese was picked 7th in the first round. And team Chicago Sky co-owner Dwyane Wade has extended welcome messages to both the players.
“The National Champion, @Kamillascsilva at pick 3! Look forward to following your career in Sky Town! Let’s go to work @chicagosky 🫡🫡 Congrats! #WNBADraft,” Dwyane Wade posted on X. In another welcome post, which was for Angel Reese, the Miami Heat icon wrote, “The Bayou Barbie in Sky Town! Congratulations, @Reese10Angel ! Let’s bring that B-More intensity to the @chicagosky 🫡🔥 #WNBADraft.”
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There can be multiple reasons for Sky to go with the ex-South Carolina star as their first choice. She has had two NCAA championships to her name (2022 and 2024). She was also named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2024 Final Four. The 6’7″ Brazillian averaged 16.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game in her 2024 March Madness run.
Meanwhile, Reese, along with Caitlin Clark, has been among the big names of the NCAA. And just like Cardoso, Reese led her team, the LSU Tigers, to the NCAA Championship in 2023. She also earned her place as the Most Outstanding Player of the 2023 Final Four. This season, Reese paced the Southeastern Conference in scoring (18.6 ppg) and rebounding (13.4 rpg) for the second straight year, becoming the first player to do so since 1990.
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What do the two players coming together mean for Chicago Sky?
It is worth mentioning that both players have had NCAA championships in their name and impressive records. So both players bring significant value addition to the team. Notably, Kamilla Cardoso averaged 14.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game this season. Meanwhile, Angel Reese averaged 18.6 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game this season.
And with Cardoso standing at 6’7″ and Reese at 6’3″, the Chicago Sky may just have landed one of the best frontcourts in the league. “Nobody is going to get any rebounds on us,” Cardoso said to ESPN after Sky picked her and Reese. Meanwhile, the ex-LSU star said, “I’m just so excited… I get to play with Kamilla [Cardoso].”
