The Chicago Sky’s inability to effectively feed the ball to their promising rookie center, Kamilla Cardoso, has become a pressing concern, particularly as the team struggles to maintain its playoff hopes. Despite having a talent like Cardoso, the Sky have not been able to fully integrate her into their offensive game plan. This inefficiency raises the question: why can’t they feed her the ball consistently, and is there a solution before the end of the season?
Ahead of their recent game against the Los Angeles Sparks, the game plan was clear: get the ball to Cardoso. The Sparks lacked a player who could match her size and speed, making it an ideal opportunity to feature her. Coach Teresa Weatherspoon and guard Chennedy Carter both emphasized the importance of feeding Cardoso early and often. However, despite some early success, Cardoso’s production quickly dropped off. By halftime, she had only six points, and by the end of the game, she had scored just 12 points on eight shot attempts.
This has been a recurring theme throughout the season. Cardoso, drafted third overall because of her potential to become one of the WNBA’s most dominant centers, is only averaging 7.5 shot attempts per game, the second-lowest of any starting center in the league. The team’s goal is to run a traditional inside-out offense, where the ball moves through the post to create open shots for other players. Yet, they have struggled to do this consistently with Cardoso.
One major issue is how the Sky utilize Cardoso. While her height (6-foot-7) is often seen as her biggest asset, her speed is equally important. Instead of relying on her to stay in the restricted area, the Sky need to find ways to move her around the court more intentionally. One solution is to use her in pick-and-roll plays, which allow her to stay involved in the offense without the ball. Recently, Cardoso has also started making off-ball movements, such as slipping screens and making quick cuts to the basket. These actions have proven effective, often leading to unguarded layups. By incorporating more cross screens, backdoor cuts, and high-low passes, the Sky can unlock the part of Cardoso’s game that is the hardest for opponents to defend.
However, another significant hurdle for the Sky is their difficulty in executing effective post-entry passes. Even though Cardoso’s size makes her a clear target, getting her the ball in the post is more challenging than it appears. Feeding the post requires quick decision-making and accurate passing, two areas where the Sky have consistently struggled. The team’s guards often have trouble getting the right angles to make a clean pass to Cardoso, resulting in either turnovers or missed opportunities.
This is partly a timing issue. Cardoso frequently seals her defender, creating what appears to be an open look, but if the pass isn’t made at the right moment or from the right angle, the opportunity is lost. This breakdown in execution has been a season-long problem for the Sky, frustrating both the team and Cardoso herself. Sometimes, after working hard to get into position, she doesn’t even receive the ball.
The Sky’s personnel also plays a role in this struggle. The team lacks depth at the guard position, which has hindered their ability to consistently feed Cardoso in the post. Carter has shown the most promise in facilitating the pick-and-roll with Cardoso, especially in the last five games. However, the rest of the Sky’s guards have been inconsistent in their passing. Marina Mabrey was the team’s best post passer, but she was traded to the Connecticut Sun during the Olympic break, leaving the Sky without a strong facilitator. Lindsay Allen and Dana Evans, the team’s remaining point guards, have both struggled in this aspect of the game, while Michaela Onyenwere has shown improvement but is not yet reliable.
At times, other bigs like Angel Reese and Isabelle Harrison have been the ones to make the best passes to Cardoso. While this is a positive development, it’s not a sustainable long-term solution. The Sky need a point guard who can consistently get the ball to Cardoso in the paint, and finding this player will likely be a top priority for the team during the offseason.
Another issue for the Sky is spacing. They need to find a way to balance the paint between Cardoso and Reese, another talented rookie on the team. Both players need space to operate in the paint, and the Sky have struggled to find the right spacing to maximize both of their talents. Recently, the team has made some progress in this area, but it’s still a work in progress.
In summary, the Chicago Sky’s struggles to feed Kamilla Cardoso stem from a combination of factors: insufficient off-ball movement, poor execution of post-entry passes, and a lack of consistent guard play. While the team has made some adjustments, such as moving Cardoso more and improving their spacing, they still have a long way to go. Whether they can find a solution in time to secure a playoff spot remains to be seen.
