Chicago Sky poised to end city's playoff drought
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Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky reacts to a call during a game on May 6. Photo: Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The WNBA season kicks off this weekend with a marquee matchup pitting two of the game's biggest stars against each other.
- The Sky travel to Indiana to take on Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever at 2pm Saturday.
Why it matters: The Sky could break the playoff drought in the city.
State of play: If you are new to the Sky or just want to catch up on the new-look squad, here's a quick primer on the players to watch.
Angel Reese: She had an extraordinary rookie season, breaking all sorts of WNBA records for rebounding. Her star burns even brighter entering year two. She's a defensive star. Scratch that: She's a bona fide star.
- Think Dennis Rodman, but without the colorful hair and antics.
Kamilla Cardoso: Reese brings the fire, but Cardoso brings the heat. The towering center suffered a shoulder injury to start last season and never really recovered. She's healthy now and has turned heads during the preseason.
Courtney Vandersloot: The champ is back! Vandersloot was the point guard for the Sky team that won the WNBA title in 2021. She holds WNBA records for assists and will get the ball to Reese and Cardoso, something last year's squad had a hard time doing.
Hailey Van Lith: Reese's partner at LSU, Van Lith brings a winning pedigree to the Sky. She will likely come off the bench, but she was a high-energy scorer in college and will give the team a scoring option beyond the arc. She could become a fan favorite quickly.
Ariel Atkins: The Sky made a shrewd move trading their top draft pick to the Mystics for former All-Star Atkins. She is a huge upgrade over last year's role players and will bring more toughness and experience to the young team.
The bottom line: The Sky's the limit for this young team. Even if this team doesn't win, they have the players to make for must-watch basketball in Chicago.