Breaking: Angel Reese Applies for Sixth Position—Team Savior; Sky Fall to 0-3

Reese drops another double-double, Cardoso shows up big, and still the Sky can’t catch a break—or a W.

Angel Reese is only a sophomore by WNBA standards.

But the list of things Chicago needs her to play as already reads like a resume built in fast-forward: rebounder, facilitator, connector, vocal leader, tone-setter. Now, on a winless Sky team trying to find its footing, Reese is being asked to steady the floor while shouldering the ceiling.

On Sunday in a 91-78 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks, Reese did what she could—13 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, two steals—but the Sparks simply had more weapons, more answers, and, finally, a win to show for it.

Both teams headed into the contest on a losing streak. However, Los Angeles snapped its three-game skid with a home victory that looked and felt like the reset they’d been waiting on.

Angel Reese threw on her hard hat but it was not enough.

Additionally, Kamilla Cardoso chipped in 12 on 6-of-9 shooting in her best outing yet.

Reese and Cardoso were the biggest reasons this didn’t turn into a blowout. Chicago’s frontcourt duo combined for 25 points and 18 boards and were relentless in the paint. Cardoso, in particular, looked sharp and battled with Azurá Stevens shot for shot in the second half.

 

“We’re skinny but we’re strong,” azura Stevens said postgame. “And when we all crash, when we’re all locked in, we’re hard to move.”

Reese kept coming. She always does. There was a stretch in the fourth where she grabbed her own miss, reset the offense, made the extra pass, and still had the energy to pick up a steal two plays later.

Chicago made runs during this game showing their fight, including a 10-0 spurt in the fourth to cut it to five.

The problem? But the problem was Los Angeles punched back.

First, Sarah Ashlee Barker hit a momentum-stopping jumper. Then Stevens took over with back-to-back buckets. Finally Plum twisted the knife with a cold pull-up that ballooned the lead back to 13.

Game. Set. Bounce-back.

Sparks will fly 

“We were really good defensively,” Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said. “They were locked in … and when the ball moves like that, the game gets fun.”

Fun looked like 24 assists, 13 made threes, and a third quarter that broke Chicago’s rhythm open like a dropped vase.

The head of the snake, Kelsey Plum set the tone with 28 points, including six threes and a heat-check quarter that made the Crypto.com crowd buzz.

 

“There’s a balance,” Plum said of her second-half explosion. “But if they’re going to give me airspace, I’m going to test the wind.”

She tested it, alright. And the Sparks soared.

Speaking of tests, Dearica Hamby passed the test against of the best froncourts in the WNBA.

You want a stat line? Try this: 10 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and a career-high 6 steals. Hamby was everywhere. She’s been the heart of this Sparks team all season long. Sunday was another day at the office for Hamby as she continued to display her game —diving, passing, ripping pockets like she was late for a meeting.

That’s not a game. That’s a takeover.

 

“She’s the engine,” Roberts said. “We go as she goes.”

Odyssey Sims added 12 points, because of course she did.

Rookie guard, Sarah Ashlee Barker’s ice-cold jumper in the fourth stopped a Sky run in its tracks. Every time Chicago made a push—like the 10–0 burst that cut it to five late—Los Angeles had a punch to throw right back.

One Side Finding Its Footing. One Side Still Searching.

This was LA’s first win since opening night against the Valkyries, and it showed what this team could be when the ball moves, the defense locks in, and the stars shoot like stars. The Sparks now move to 2–3, with a shot to stack another win Tuesday against Atlanta.

They played like a team that’s learning how to win ugly and beautiful all at once.

Chicago, still winless at 0–3, heads to Phoenix next. Still figuring it out. Still waiting.

Reese is doing the work. The tools are there. But the weight she’s carrying this early in her career is heavy—and no one is handing her help on a silver platter.

 

“We’re going to continue to fight..Chicago we have a long way to go…day by day, just conitnue and put our heads down and work.”

And Reese is correct. There’s still a lot of season left to play, and a lot more work to accomplish.

But the W doesn’t wait for anyone.

Not even a superstar having to play above her development curve.