Chicago completed a three-game sweep of Portland in the season series. Photo by Jacob Nunez/Sportspage Magazine
They say that styles make fights. That phrase translates to other sports as well.
The Chicago Sky knocked out the Portland Fire 124-94 on a record-breaking Friday night at Wintrust Arena. Center Kamilla Cardoso set a WNBA record, hitting all 13 of her shots, and the Sky completed a sweep of the Fire in their three games this season.
In doing so, the Sky set a WNBA record with 38 assists, and franchise records of 124 points and 66.2 percent shooting.
Chicago continuously fed Cardoso while Portland’s style was muffled by its inability to hit from distance (9-for-30). The result was another lopsided victory for the Sky, which defeated Portland by 23 points just two days earlier, and by 15 at Portland in the season opener.
“The coaches have emphasized on me, rolling first and just holding my seal,” Cardoso said of her successful style. “I think that’s something I’ve been doing and it works really well.”
To say Chicago’s style, and in particular, Cardoso’s matches up well against the Fire would be the ultimate understatement.
Half of Chicago’s six wins (6-12) this season are thumpings of Portland, which fell to 8-11.
Cardoso scored a career-high 30 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
“Her attention to detail, her trust in her teammates, her trust in herself, it’s been evident in the last four games,” said Chicago Head Coach Tyler Marsh.
On a record-setting night, Chicago scored a franchise record for points and assists. Photo by Jacob Nunez/Sportspage Magazine
Undrafted rookie teammate Sydney Taylor continues her amazing season with 29 points on 8-of-11 from the floor, including 6-for-7 from 3-point range and 7-for-7 from the free-throw line.
The Sky were inspired by the return of veteran Courtney Vandersloot, who was sidelined for more than a year after tearing her ACL last June. “Sloot” entered the game at the 6-minute mark of the first quarter and scored her first bucket on a driving layup. She played a total of 13:48, hit all four field goal attempts, finished with 10 points, and dished out seven assists in her long-awaited return.
“I just wanted to get those first minutes out of the way,” Vandersloot said. “I’ve been working for a year for that exact moment.”
Portland had its moments. The Fire fought back when the 3-point shots started falling and came close.
But Chicago ended the third quarter on a 14-3 run to rebuild its lead. The Sky started the fourth quarter with an 88-75 advantage and won it going away.
Azura Stevens contributed 12 points and six assists for Chicago while Jacy Sheldon tossed in 11 and Skylar Diggins finished with 10 points to go along with a game-high nine assists.
The Sky shot 53.6 percent (15-of-28) from long distance. “We have a lot of good players, and when everybody plays to their strengths then these kinds of nights can happen.” Vandersloot said.
Bridget Carleton led Portland in the scoring column with 20 points while Carla Leite added 18. Megan Gustafson tossed in 13 points and Sarah Ashlee Barker and Frieda Buhner rounded out the double-figure scorers for the Fire with 11 and 10 points respectively.