It didn’t take long for Chicago Sky first round picks Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso to show off their chemistry. During the Sky’s preseason matchup against the Minnesota Lynx, Reese threw a sneaky dime to a cutting Cardoso for a wide-open layup.

The Sky selected Cardoso with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. The organization drafted Reese only four picks later. If Friday night is any indication, the front court duo could be a headache for opponents for years to come.

It may take a while for Reese and Cardoso to get used to wearing the same jersey. Although they are teammates now, they waged war against each other for two years in the SEC. This past season, South Carolina and LSU faced off twice. Cardoso and her fellow Gamecocks walked away with a win on both occasions.

The last time the two storied programs met was in the SEC Tournament Championship. In the heated battle, Reese tallied 15 points and 13 rebounds. For the Gamecocks, Cardoso notched eight points, six rebounds and three blocks.

While Cardoso was a higher pick in the WNBA Draft, Reese boasted equally impressive collegiate accomplishments. The Baltimore native was the 2024 SEC Player of the Year and the 2023 Final Four Most Outstanding Player.

A bright future for Angel Reese & Kamilla Cardoso

After the WNBA Draft, South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley weighed in on the Chicago Sky’s decision to pair the unlikely duo.

“Kamilla is the ultimate competitor,” Staley said. “Angel Reese — ultimate competitor. We had a lot of battles, last year and this year. We were the top-2 teams in the SEC, so you know they are enemies by nature because of rivalry.

“But now, they’re joined hands in hopefully bringing a WNBA championship to Chicago. I’m a fan. I’m gonna get me some season tickets. I know I won’t be there the entire season. But somebody’s gonna be sitting in my seats cheering Kamilla Cardoso on.”

Staley isn’t the only one excited to see Reese and Cardoso compete at the next level. Ahead of the WNBA Draft, ESPN’s Andraya Carter raved about Reese’s potential on women’s basketball’s biggest stage.

“Spending time watching Angel in practice sometimes, Angel’s a thinker,” Carter said. “She likes to think the game, she likes to learn the game. I actually think she would do really well learning from veterans and listening and doing whatever the team needed.

“But I think the rebounding immediately would be something that would translate. The rebounding and energy, for Angel.”