If there was ever an attention-grabbing matchup, it will be 6-foot-7 Chicago Sky rookie Kamilla Cardoso taking over 6-foot-9 Phoenix Mercury nice Brittney Griner. Each are a robust presence within the paint, as Griner herself has seen. One represents the current and the opposite represents the longer term. The time got here for them to satisfy for the primary time on Thursday in Chicago.
After a month-long hiatus because of the Olympic Video games, the Sky had been again in motion as they took on the Mercury. It was clear from the beginning they wanted to get again right into a routine. Plus, they had been with out beginning guard Chennedy Carter, who was out with a non-COVID sickness. It was additionally the primary recreation with out Marina Mabrey after she was traded to the Connecticut Solar
The primary quarter set the tone because the Mercury outscored the Sky 30-12. It turned out to be all of the cushion Phoenix wanted as their lead remained in double figures as Chicago struggled to remain aggressive. The tip outcome was a 85-65 loss.
Cardoso completed with 10 factors and 5 rebounds. She shot 62.5 % from the sector, the very best subject aim share of anybody on the Sky. Griner completed with 23 factors and 9 rebounds whereas capturing 83 % from the sector. Regardless of Griner’s dominating efficiency, Cardoso was in a position to maintain it collectively as greatest she might when it comes to agility, energy and being fixed on protection. Afterwards, she earned Griner’s respect.
Griner mentioned:
I at all times like going up towards folks my measurement. I appeared ahead to it tonight, and I used to be proud of it. I don’t ever go right into a recreation like, ‘Let me attempt to stretch it out extra on this one.’ I simply type of learn how they enjoying me. What the matchup is, in the event that they ship assist and that simply type of dictates what I need to do this evening. However, I used to be proud of the way it went.
Head coach Teresa Weatherspoon acknowledged Griner as a regular bearer for submit gamers within the league and praised Cardoso for her efficiency, expressing confidence in her capacity to be taught from gamers like Griner. Weatherspoon emphasised:
I believe you all know who BG is. BG is likely one of the greatest submit gamers doing it. She’s been round. You title the protection, she’s seen it, she’s performed towards it. So she’s very affected person in what she does offensively. I believe Kamilla did a heck of a job of making an attempt to maintain her off of the place she operates greatest. BG simply is aware of tips on how to get pictures off, creates house, one thing that Kamilla learns from and she or he is aware of what she must do down the stretch once we meet them once more. That’s crucial factor, you be taught. You find out how nice these gamers are. You are taking some issues that they do, however then you definately discover ways to defend it.
There have been another notable performances. Angel Reese notched her 18th double-double on the 12 months and broke Sylvia Fowles’ single-season franchise rebounding file. Dana Evans’ sharp capturing resulted in 14 factors. Rachel Banham, in her first Sky recreation since coming from the Solar, went 3-for-10 from the sector. In her return to Chicago, Kahleah Copper led all scorers with 29 factors.
The Chicago Sky (10-15) will hit the highway to tackle the Los Angeles Sparks (6-19) on Saturday, Aug. 17 at 5 p.m. ET.
