Love her or hate her, no one in the WNBA can deny that Paige Bueckers is building a legendary career. Even with her team out of playoff contention, the point guard keeps proving she can shine on her own. Her double-digit scoring nights have become routine, and her 44-point showcase against the Sparks was confirmation that she can dominate at will.
With this level of spectacle, it’s only logical that the spotlight stays on her. However, that same attention has sparked debate: while Bueckers fills headlines and airtime on ESPN, other teams with compelling stories have been left behind in media coverage.
Chicago Sky experiencing an inconsistent season
Kendra Andrews, ESPN reporter, pointed this out on The Women’s Hoops Show alongside Jordan Robinson. For her, the most evident case is the Chicago Sky. “I don’t know what’s going on in Chicago. We thought they’d take a step forward and now they’re near the bottom. I think one reason we don’t talk about them as much is because Connecticut and Dallas have great narratives… and of course, there’s Paige Bueckers being absolutely incredible,” she said.
Sky is having an inconsistent season: capable of beating powerhouses like Minnesota and New York, but also falling into losing streaks of up to nine games. Andrews admitted that before the season started, she saw them fighting for a playoff spot thanks to the talent of Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso, the arrival of Courtney Vandersloot, and the addition of promising Hailey Van Lith. However, all that potential hasn’t translated into results.
Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso
Despite the challenges, Andrews highlighted Angel Reese’s performance, especially before missing games due to back issues. Her rebounding ability and, above all, her growth in ball distribution have surprised even veteran coaches in the league.
That same point was emphasized by Becky Hammon, coach of the Las Vegas Aces, who called for a more creative role for Kamilla Cardoso. “Her development could come in a point forward role. If she adds that playmaking ability, she could be a real problem,” said the coach.
Kamilla Cardoso and Paige Bueckers
The message seems to have landed. In the last ten games, Cardoso led the Chicago Sky in assists in six of them. Her most recent performance against New York was monumental: 22 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 assists, confirming that the Brazilian can be much more than a dominant force in the paint.
If Cardoso and Reese manage to take on that dual role of scoring and facilitating – in the style of Paige Bueckers – Chicago Sky could turn their season around and restore the relevance that now seems overshadowed by the brilliance of ESPN’s star.
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