Indeed, the SEC is the most competitive and fiery conference in all of women’s college hoops. And if you’ve made it through that gauntlet, you’re coming out with grit, toughness, and a whole lot of fight. Angel Reese and Rickea Jackson – repping LSU and Tennessee – know that energy all too well. They’ve lived it, breathed it, and now they’ve brought that same fire with them to the W. As second-year pros, every time they meet on the court, it feels like a battle. But off it, they’re still two young stars from the same draft class who might go head-to-head every time, yet carry a deep respect for each other underneath it all.

Tuesday’s game between the Sky and Sparks wasn’t just a battle…it also had a battle. Early in the first quarter, things got heated between Rickea and Sky vet Rebecca Allen while they were going at it for a rebound. Rickea didn’t like the contact, words were exchanged, and tension shot up real quick. Reese jumped in to pull Allen away, probably trying to calm it down but Rickea kept chirping.

Reese turned back, likely telling her to relax. And Jackson wasn’t having it as she gave Angel a little shove, and Sky star didn’t back down either. It almost looked like the two were about to get into a fight of their own before Kelsey Plum entered and separated the two. Eventually, the chaotic moment ends with RJ and Allen receiving techs. 

But after all that, you’d expect a bit of beef, right? Well, not al all. After the game, cameras caught a sweet moment. As Rickea walked past and Reese stood on the court, they shared a quick side hug. You couldn’t see Rickea’s face, but Angel had a smile and we’re guessing RJ did too.

Both Reese and Jackson earned reputations as elite trash talkers back in their SEC days. And while they’ve never exactly had those deep moments, they’ve always shared friendly vibes. One such moment was at the 2024 WNBA Draft, when they were spotted chatting and smiling together at the Empire State Building event. The respect’s always been there, even if the on-court battles get intense.

That fire was back. Reese, who also made WNBA history, showed exactly why she’s one of the hottest rising stars in the league. She went off for 18 points, 17 rebounds, six assists, and four steals in the Sky’s 97-86 win over the Sparks. Jackson had 11 for L.A., but the difference in this game was all about the boards.  Chicago out-rebounded the Sparks 36-27, and you guessed it…Reese led the charge with nearly half of those. 

It wasn’t smooth sailing though. The Sky trailed 29-17 after the first quarter, but they completely flipped the script, outscoring L.A. by 23 the rest of the way including a 30-17 fourth-quarter run. Not to forget, the star of the show, Kamilla Cardoso. The sophomore was a force, constantly drawing defenders and finding Reese for easy buckets. Cardoso also had a career-high 27 points on 10-of-15 shooting, plus seven boards.

But, going forward, Sky fans won’t enjoy this one for a bit as Cardoso is heading overseas for a quick break due to prior commitments.

Angel Reese holds the fort as Kamilla Cardoso heads to AmeriCup 

Second-year center Kamilla Cardoso has been quietly putting together a strong season for the Chicago Sky. She currently ranks second on the team in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 11.6 points and 6.6 boards per game. Alongside Angel Reese, Cardoso has formed a dominant frontcourt duo that’s quickly becoming the future of the franchise.

But for now, that pairing is hitting pause.

Cardoso will be stepping away from the team to represent her home country, Brazil, in the 2024 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup Tournament. She’ll depart after this game and begin international play on Saturday, June 28, when Brazil takes on Argentina in Chile. After that, Brazil will face Canada (July 1), the Dominican Republic (July 2), and El Salvador (July 3), leading into the quarterfinals and the championship game on Sunday, July 6.

The absence could be a temporary blow to Chicago, but here’s the good news, head coach Tyler Marsh expects Cardoso to return in time for the Sky’s July 6 matchup against the Minnesota Lynx. That means she may only miss two or three WNBA games: back-to-back road contests against the Golden State Valkyries and the Los Angeles Sparks.

In the meantime, the Sky will have to make some adjustments. Expect Angel Reese to potentially slide over to center, or for veteran Elizabeth Williams to step into the starting lineup. Williams, who’s averaging over 17 minutes this season, is coming off her best game yet – 16 points and 5 rebounds against the Atlanta Dream.

Either way, with Reese holding things down and Cardoso set to return soon, Chicago’s frontcourt still looks like one of the brightest spots despite current struggles and a 4-10 record.