LSU’s Angel Reese (left) and South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso stand with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert during the WNBA draft in New York Monday, April 15.
Adam Hunger/AP
Three days into training camp, Sky rookies Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese already have a routine. Their mornings start with some one-on-one practice time with coach Teresa Weatherspoon.
“Post moves, midrange, driving to the basket,” Cardoso said. “Just post player stuff.”
Less than a month ago, Cardoso and Reese were competing in the NCAA Tournament for South Carolina and LSU, respectively, with Cardoso enjoying a run to a national title. The quick turnaround from the tournament to the WNBA Draft and training camp is a unique experience in the women’s game, but support from veteran teammates, including Sky guards Diamond DeShields and Dana Evans, has made the adjustment easier. Both were actively pulling younger players aside during practice Monday to share feedback. And Reese said her daily chats with Weatherspoon have been vital in the early stages of her development.
“We have conversations all the time,” Reese said. “We hold each other accountable. She has a mindset like [LSU] coach [Kim] Mulkey, being able to come in every day and just expect greatness and a lot from you. Even expectations you might not have for yourself, she sees in you.”
Weatherspoon closed practice Monday with five-on-five action between the Sky and practice players. Her first five out on the floor — one of many combinations she used over the first two days — were Evans, guard Marina Mabrey, wing Michaela Onyenwere, Reese and forward Isabelle Harrison. Those aren’t her starters — the goal is simply to make practice as competitive as possible.
“We haven’t even thought in that way [about specific lineups],” Weatherspoon said. “We will, be-cause that’s something we look at. That’s why we have film every day. Once we get into the exhibition games, we’ll be able to see a little bit more.”
Forward Taya Reimer and guard Kysre Gondrezick, both on training-camp contracts, haven’t participated in the practice sessions open to reporters. Weatherspoon declined to comment on their status or when they’d be available.
“They’ll be fine,” she said.
As for her expectations for the rest of the team, Weatherspoon said simplicity is the key — and that her expectations will evolve. She noted how her own history as a WNBA point guard is now anchoring her relationship with Cardoso and Reese.
“I’m a playmaker,” Weatherspoon said. “So I study everybody. You study strengths. You study weaknesses. What you do is you come in and polish it up.”
The Sky have a day off Tuesday, the result of their first preseason game against the Lynx being pushed from Saturday to Friday. Reese said the team planned to get together to celebrate Cardoso’s 22nd birthday.