Kamilla Cardoso joined Angel Reese in doing the former LSU women’s college basketball star’s crown celebration as the new Chicago Sky teammates appeared in an ad for the NBA Finals alongside many basketball greats.
Reese, who typically wore crowns before games, departed LSU as one of the most influential players in program history.
She is also one of the most recognizable faces in NCAA history; her popularity has surged since the 2023 NCAA Tournament, with women’s college basketball becoming one of the hottest topics in the crowded sporting landscape.
Reese, who transferred to LSU from Maryland after the 2021-22 season, became an icon with the Tigers after winning the national championship in 2023. She enjoyed a great rivalry with ex-South Carolina center Cardoso in college, but the pair have squashed any animosity in order to star for Chicago in the WNBA.
Reese and Cardoso, winners of the last two NCAA championships with LSU and South Carolina, respectively, were invited as a result.
“Tonight we honor basketball’s kings and queens,” said rapper and actor Queen Latifah, before Reese declared, “Champs only” while she sat alongside Cardoso.
Latifah winked at the camera as the pair did the crown gesture above their heads, which some fans speculated to be a shot at Clark’s back-to-back losses with Iowa.
While the Sky may still be in the middle stages of a rebuild, the pairing of rookies Reese and Cardoso in the WNBA Draft has provided hope the franchise can return to contender status soon.
Reese has impressed with her well-rounded game, averaging 11.5 points per game to go with 8.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals through two appearances.
Her energy and hustle on the boards have been a constant source of inspiration for her teammates. In Saturday’s 83-74 win over the Dallas Wings, Reese contributed 11 points, nine rebounds, and a pair of assists.
“One of the most prolific rebounders this game has ever seen,” basketball legend Sheryl Swoopes said of Reese on the local Dallas TV broadcast. “You have to check her out [if you’re defending].”
Cardoso, who won Most Outstanding Player at the 2024 NCAA Tournament, suffered a shoulder injury just before the regular season and is set to miss up to six weeks of action. When she returns, Sky fans will hope she can effectively mesh with Reese to serve as cornerstones for the franchise going forward.
The Sky take on the New York Liberty – defeated in the WNBA Finals last season – in their next contest on Thursday, May 23.
