The Chicago Sky suffered their second straight loss on Saturday, and no player from the team scored more than 20 points. They are still managing multiple injuries to their roster and will receive more bad news. Kamilla Cardoso was the team’s top scorer against the Minnesota Lynx, but the officials noticed her taunting the opponent more than her 17 points.

A sequence took place with 3 seconds left in the first frame: Lynx’s Emese Hof committed a personal foul, which meant Kamilla Cardoso went to the line and converted her two shots. This was the background that led to their double technicals in the second quarter. Cardoso initially taunted Hof and faked throwing the ball at her. “See right here, that’s Cardoso sending a little bit of a message to Hoff,” called the broadcaster.

The Lynx star remained unmoved, and the team ran their next play. But moments later, the two exchanged words and had to be separated, and the coaches and officials stepped in and called a double technical foul on both. Under the new CBA, the first three technical fouls carry a $500 fine each. Since this was Kamilla Cardoso’s first technical foul of the season, she will pay a $500 fine.

Before this game, she had no technicals to her name. But the Chicago Sky has already accumulated 4 technical fouls this season, and last season they had 19, with Angel Reese leading the charts with 9. This year, following Angel Reese’s trade to Atlanta, the franchise’s responsibility is on the shoulders of Kamilla Cardoso. The Sky is now on a two-game losing streak after starting 3-1.

Questions surround Kamilla Cardoso’s ability despite her performances

This year has been a rollercoaster for Chicago, as only four players from their 2025 rotation remain. The scrutiny was loud after Angel Reese left. Grant Young, a WNBA beat journalist, questioned Cardoso’s fit in the new-look team.

“Angel Reese leaving the Chicago Sky hasn’t unlocked Kamilla Cardoso in a way people expected,” Young said, “Because I think space is just one aspect of this equation. Reese did clog the paint at times, but also created a lot of pressure for the defense to deal with. Reese’s physicality, offensive rebounding, and second-chance opportunities created more chances for Cardoso. But now, defense can solely focus on her in the interior.”

The criticism was fair, with the 25-year-old center already having two games with fewer than 10 points. But in the last three matchups, the South Carolina alum has regained her form. In last week’s encounter against Minnesota, Cardoso missed the first three shots but ended with 11 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists. Then, against the Dallas Wings on Wednesday, she had her season-best 24 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists.

Against the Lynx, the entire Sky unit struggled, yet Cardoso powered with a team-high 17 points and 7 rebounds, shooting 66.67% from the field. Cardoso’s 17 points came when the Sky was already missing Carrington (left foot), Vandersloot (ACL recovery), and Rickea Jackson, who recently suffered a torn ACL, meaning she will be out for the season.