(Photo: Chicago Sky)
The 2024 WNBA season starts in just a few weeks, but this Friday (3), the first pre-season games of the professional women’s basketball league in the United States took place. And two of the Brazilian team’s main stars played their first matches with their league teams. Kamilla Cardoso took the court for the Chicago Sky, while Stephanie Soares played for the Dallas Wings.
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The Chicago Sky faced the Minnesota Lynx at their opponents’ home. Kamilla Cardoso, third pick in this year’s WNBA draft, started on the bench, but in the first quarter she was called on by the team coach, scoring six points. The pivot had a sudden fall at the end of the second quarter, feeling discomfort in her shoulder. Therefore, the coaching staff preferred to spare Kamilla, who returned to the bench for the rest of the match.
In the end, the Lynx won the game 86 to 78. Courtney Williams and Napheesa Collier, with 17 points each, led Minnesota’s attack in the game. On the Chicago Sky side, guard Lindsay Allen was the team’s top scorer, also with 17 points.
Stephanie faces WNBA promise
After being the fourth pick in the 2023 WNBA draft, Stephanie Soares was unable to play last year while treating an injury. Recovered, the Brazilian played her first game for the Dallas Wings this Friday. The opponent was the Indiana Fever, who recently recruited Caitlin Clark, MVP of the last season of college basketball in the United States. Stephanie started on the bench and came on for four minutes, managing just one assist and one steal.
As expected, Caitlin Clark gave a great performance on her debut for the Fever. The point guard scored 21 points and was the scorer of the game, alongside Jaelyn Brown from Dallas. The victory went to Wings, in a match decided in the final seconds, 79 to 76. Indiana also has Brazilian Damiris Dantas in the squad. But she was not selected for the match, as she was unable to travel to the United States in time while she resolved an issue with her visa.
Journalist graduated from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) and addicted to sports
