The Chicago Sky have largely struggled since drafting both Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso in the first round of the 2024 WNBA Draft. Last season, the team went just 13-27, and they are off to a 3-10 start in 2025.

Both players have started alongside each other in the frontcourt since being drafted, and both made the All-Rookie team in 2024, with Reese even making the WNBA All-Star team.

Cardoso is second on the team in scoring this season at 11.8 points per game, and Reese is contributing 10.8 points per contest while also leading the league with 11.5 rebounds per game.

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Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) and center Kamilla Cardoso (10).

Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

These second-year players have been two of the focal points of new head coach Tyler Marsh’s offense in Chicago to begin the 2025 season. Unfortunately for Chicago, Cardoso will be temporarily leaving the Sky after Tuesday’s game against the Los Angeles Sparks.

She will be competing for her home country Brazil in the Americup tournament at the end of June and into early July, as confirmed by Sky reporter Karli Bell on Monday.

“Confirmed: Kamilla Cardoso will be available for tomorrow’s game and then leaving after for Americup,” Bell wrote.

Coach Marsh now has a decision to make about how he plans to mitigate the loss of Cardoso and who will get her minutes and touches until she returns.

Sliding Reese up to the center position and playing a bit of small-ball is one option, and is something the team worked on this month at a practice in which Cardoso was sidelined. Given Reese’s prowess on the glass, Chicago deciding to use her more at the five in Cardoso’s absence would not be entirely surprising, as it could also increase floor spacing around the former LSU star.

Another choice would be keeping things relatively the same and moving 11-year veteran center Elizabeth Williams into the starting lineup. She is coming off a season-best 16 points and five rebounds against the Dream.

While Tuesday’s game against the Sparks will likely see Reese and Cardoso start alongside each other once again, fans will surely be monitoring Marsh’s decision ahead of Friday’s game against the Golden State Valkyries.