CHICAGO, IL — Kamilia Cardoso delivered the best performance of her young career, and Angel Reese continued her double-double dominance as the Chicago Sky surged in the fourth quarter to defeat the Los Angeles Sparks 97–86 on Tuesday night.
Cardoso dropped a career-high 27 points, including a crucial go-ahead layup early in the fourth quarter that sparked a 30–17 run to close the game. Reese added 18 points and 17 rebounds, recording yet another monster night on the glass. Ariel Atkins chipped in with 13 points for the Sky, who improved to 4–10 on the season.
The win marks a strong response for Chicago, who trailed by double digits in both the first and second quarters. After falling behind 27–17 at the end of the first and 44–32 midway through the second, the Sky battled back to cut the deficit to six by halftime, 48–42.
The teams traded punches in the third quarter, with Rebecca Allen hitting a deep three and a runner to tie the score at 65 and 67. Kelsey Plum’s late bucket gave L.A. a slim 69–67 lead heading into the final frame—but Chicago took control from there.
Cardoso’s fourth-quarter heroics included a short jumper, a free throw, and dominant play in the paint as the Sky seized momentum and never looked back. Chicago claimed its first lead of the night at 74–72 with 7:23 remaining and quickly built on it.
For the Sparks (4–11), Azura Stevens led with 21 points, Kelsey Plum followed with 20, while Dearica Hamby and Rickea Jackson added 15 and 11, respectively. The loss marks L.A.’s fourth consecutive defeat.
Looking ahead, Cardoso will miss the Sky’s next four games as she joins the Brazilian national team for an international tournament in Chile. The team also announced that veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot recently underwent successful ACL surgery on her right knee.
Despite the early struggles, Chicago’s late-game energy and star performances proved too much for Los Angeles, sealing a confidence-building win at home.
