Camilla Cardoso Takes Over: Why the Chicago Sky Are Better Without Angel Reese
The Chicago Sky’s 2025 WNBA season has been turbulent to say the least. After weeks of drama, inconsistency, and blown leads, a decisive shift occurred—and its name is Camilla Cardoso. As the Sky finally picked up a convincing win, fans and analysts alike couldn’t ignore the obvious: Chicago plays like a legitimate team when Cardoso is the centerpiece and Angel Reese is either on the bench or out of the lineup entirely.
The Stats Don’t Lie
Camilla Cardoso’s breakout performance wasn’t just a good game—it was a revelation. She posted 23 points, 8 rebounds, and dominated the paint with efficiency and poise. Her presence under the basket gave the Sky a reliable interior threat, anchoring both their offense and defense. In contrast, Angel Reese struggled mightily, putting up just 2 points in nearly 30 minutes of play. Her box score reads more like a warning sign than a contribution: missed layups, defensive breakdowns, and a shooting percentage that looks allergic to the rim.
The contrast between the two frontcourt players couldn’t be more stark. Cardoso has the physicality, discipline, and awareness to play professional basketball at the highest level. Reese, meanwhile, is putting up numbers that wouldn’t justify a starting role on any competitive WNBA roster.
Chemistry Crisis: Cardoso Brings Order, Reese Sparks Chaos
Team sports are as much about chemistry as they are about individual talent, and the Chicago Sky are a textbook case. When the offense is run through Cardoso, the team functions. There’s ball movement, spacing, smart decision-making, and most importantly, results. But when Angel Reese is inserted into the offense, the team collapses like a house of cards. The flow disappears, the defense scrambles, and teammates look visibly frustrated.
Cardoso, with her calm demeanor and team-first approach, brings structure to a team desperately in need of stability. She’s setting hard screens, boxing out, rotating on defense, and making the smart pass. Reese, by contrast, is more interested in flexing after a foul than in executing plays. It’s telling that every time she leaves the floor, the Sky suddenly start looking like a real basketball team.
The “Main Character” Syndrome
Perhaps the most damning issue surrounding Angel Reese is what some fans are calling “main character syndrome.” She behaves like the team should revolve around her, but her performances don’t justify that mindset. She’s marketed as a star, treated like a leader, but her play is more fitting of a benchwarmer. There’s a difference between confidence and delusion, and right now Reese seems firmly planted in the latter.
Even more damaging is her apparent detachment from the team’s actual needs. Reese’s body language screams frustration—not the productive kind that drives improvement, but the kind that disrupts team unity. Whether it’s clapping at referees, jawing with opponents while trailing by double digits, or smirking after missed assignments, she looks more like a reality TV contestant than a professional athlete.
The Branding vs. Basketball Debate
Angel Reese came into the WNBA with one of the biggest brands in women’s basketball. She had the social media following, the endorsements, and a college resume full of viral moments. But this isn’t the NIL era anymore—this is the WNBA, and performance matters more than popularity. The league doesn’t need TikTok stars; it needs basketball players who can compete, execute, and help build credibility.
It’s becoming increasingly clear that Reese’s branding is outpacing her game. Every interview, every retweet, every marketing campaign puts more spotlight on her—and exposes just how far her play is from matching the hype. For a league still fighting for respect and attention, players like Cardoso, who let their game do the talking, are the ones who can carry the WNBA forward.
Cardoso: The Star Chicago Should Be Building Around
Camilla Cardoso, the Sky’s third overall pick in the draft, is showing why she should be the cornerstone of the franchise. She doesn’t need drama to get noticed. Her performance in the paint is elite, her work ethic is unmatched, and her impact on both ends of the floor is obvious. In every measurable way, the Sky are better when Cardoso leads and Reese watches.
Tyler Marsh, the Sky’s coach, deserves credit for seeing the shift and letting Cardoso take center stage. Playing through her in the post, using her in pick-and-rolls, and letting her anchor the defense is not only smart—it’s necessary. It’s time for Chicago to double down on this direction and let go of whatever illusion they had that Angel Reese would be their franchise player.
Addition by Subtraction
If there’s one phrase that defines this saga, it’s “addition by subtraction.” The Sky’s offense improves, their rotations sharpen, and the bench energy rises when Reese is off the court. The contrast is so striking it borders on comedy. In one game without Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever looked disorganized and lost. In one game without Angel Reese, the Sky looked like a playoff team.
That’s not just a coincidence. It’s a pattern. And it’s time the Sky accept it and adjust accordingly.
Final Thoughts: Tough Decisions Ahead
The Chicago Sky are at a crossroads. They can continue pretending that Angel Reese is the star they need—or they can embrace the reality that Camilla Cardoso is the leader they’ve been waiting for. One plays like a professional. The other plays like a brand ambassador.
The WNBA is growing, but it can’t afford to sacrifice legitimacy for marketability. The league needs gritty, talented, team-oriented players like Cardoso. If Reese wants to stay relevant, she needs to adapt her game, accept a reduced role, or risk being remembered as the league’s biggest distraction—not its brightest star.
The Sky just got their first win of the season. It’s not a coincidence that it happened with Cardoso at the center and Reese on the sidelines. The message is clear. The blueprint is written. Now it’s time for Chicago to turn the page.
