The Chicago Sky's highly anticipated matchup against the Indiana Fever at the United Center on June 7, 2025, has been met with uncertainty regarding the availability of second-year center Kamilla Cardoso.
Cardoso has been experiencing shoulder soreness, which has sidelined her from contact drills since Tuesday, June 3rd. According to Coach Tyler Marsh, this is a precautionary measure, and he doesn't anticipate it jeopardizing her availability for Saturday's game.
However, any shoulder issue is a cause for concern, considering Cardoso missed eight games of her rookie season due to a shoulder injury. She later admitted that the injury impacted her physicality throughout the year.
This game is particularly important for the Sky, who began the season with a 35-point loss to the Fever in Indianapolis. After securing a pair of wins against the Dallas Wings, they improved their record to 2-4. A victory against the Fever would push them above their opponents in the league standings.
Cardoso's presence is crucial for the Sky to achieve this goal. She is currently averaging 11.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. While she only scored seven points in the initial match against the Fever, she demonstrated her ability to dominate with a career-high 23-point performance against the Wings. Additionally, her defensive skills are essential to contain All-Star center Aliyah Boston.
Adding to the game's significance, it will be the first women's basketball game ever held at the United Center. The Sky moved both home games against the Fever to the Bulls' home arena. Although Fever star Caitlin Clark is sidelined with a quadriceps injury, a WNBA attendance record could still be set at the 20,923-capacity arena.
In the event that Cardoso is unable to play, Angel Reese practiced at the center position, a move made in preparation for Cardoso’s possible absence.
Despite starting the season 0-4, the Sky have shown resilience and improvement. Ariel Atkins and Courtney Vandersloot have been leading the team in scoring, while Cardoso has been contributing 11.3 points per game.
As of June 5, 2025, the official injury report for the Chicago Sky lists no injuries. The team has been relatively healthy, with only Hailey Van Lith and Moriah Jefferson listed as questionable earlier in the season.
The game between the Sky and the Fever on June 7th is set to be a historic event, regardless of Cardoso's availability.