Cardoso, Reese lead Sky’s comeback win over Sparks 97-86

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    CHICAGO — With a standout performance, Kamilia Cardoso reached a career-high with 27 points, while Angel Reese secured a double-double as the Chicago Sky triumphed over the Los Angeles Sparks, 97-86, on Tuesday night.

    Reese demonstrated her prowess with an impressive 18 points and 17 rebounds, and Ariel Atkins added 13 points to Chicago’s scorecard, contributing to the Sky’s current season record of 4-10.

    The momentum of the game shifted in favor of Chicago in the fourth quarter. Cardoso’s driving layup at 7:23 not only gave the Sky their first lead at 74-72 but also initiated a decisive 30-17 run that sealed the game against the Sparks.

    On the opposing side, the Sparks were spearheaded by Azura Stevens, who scored 21 points, and Kelsey Plum, who contributed 20. Despite their efforts, the Sparks, now 4-11 for the season, faced their fourth consecutive loss. Dearica Hamby and Rickea Jackson bolstered their offense with 15 and 11 points, respectively.

    Following her critical tiebreaker, Cardoso reinforced Chicago’s dominance with a short jumper and a free throw, extending the Sky’s lead to 77-72—a lead that continued to grow as the quarter progressed. Notably, Cardoso will soon be missing from the Sky’s lineup as she joins her Brazilian national team to compete in a tournament in Chile.

    In further team news, the Sky revealed the successful ACL surgery on veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot’s right knee, signaling her temporary absence from the roster.

    The game began with the Sparks seizing control early, establishing a commanding 10-2 lead within the first 90 seconds, and they maintained a 27-17 advantage by the end of the first quarter. Chicago, however, battled to trim the gap to 31-28 early in the second quarter. The Sparks countered with another surge, widening the lead to 44-32, but Chicago closed in again, trailing narrowly at 48-42 by halftime.

    During the third quarter’s final moments, Rebecca Allen’s scoring efforts, including a critical 3-pointer and a field goal, tied the score at 65, then again at 67. Still, Chicago couldn’t edge ahead until the vital fourth quarter. Kelsey Plum’s basket in the last minute of the third quarter briefly reinstated the Sparks’ lead at 69-67 as they entered the final period.