Latest news with #Cardoso
The Star
3 hours ago
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Pyramids hope for ‘miracle' of support in African CL final
FILE PHOTO: A horse cart drives with tourists in front of the Great Pyramids in Giza, on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt, November 4, 2024. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File photo CAIRO (Reuters) -Egypt's Pyramids hope to rally local support for Sunday's African Champions League final as they face the possibility of hosting the second leg in a near-empty stadium in Cairo against South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns. Coach Krunoslav Jurcic said it would be a "miracle" if his side could attract support from a city whose citizens overwhelmingly back one of the two traditional Cairo giants -- Al Ahly or Zamalek. Pyramids have emerged from their shadow to contest a first Champions League final and battled to a 1-1 draw away in Pretoria in the first leg. "We are expecting tomorrow a lot of people in the stadium. This will be a miracle," Jurcic told a press conference on Saturday at the June 30 Stadium on the outskirts of the Egyptian capital. "Lately, a lot of people have been speaking positively about Pyramids. They are supporters of other clubs in Egypt, but they will come to watch because Pyramids is an Egyptian club. "Tomorrow, all of Egypt will be with Pyramids, and this is our big success, this is the miracle for us," the Croatian coach said. They had only a few thousand in the stands when they triumphed in a high-tempo semi-final against another South Africa club Orlando Pirates last month. Pyramidsmoved to Cairo in 2018 and changed their name under new Saudi owners. They have since been taken over by investors from the United Arab Emirates but failed to attract much support despite challenging the traditional duopoly in recent years. But Jurcic made it clear they were still treated as outsiders as he again criticised Egypt's football association, which made them play a league game on Wednesday. "Where else in the world is a club forced to play a local match a few days before they compete in a Champions League final?," he said. Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso, however, said he did not think it would have any effect on Pyramids' chances in the final. "They rested most of their key players on Wednesday," he said of Pyramids' 5-1 win over Ceramica Cleopatra in their last league fixture of the season. Cardoso also did not think a small crowd would hinder their hosts. "They are used to playing without fans and they still fight for their championship and got to the Champions League final. It's not because of that that they didn't perform," Cardoso added. (Editing by Ed Osmond)
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Pyramids hope for ‘miracle' of support in African CL final
FILE PHOTO: A horse cart drives with tourists in front of the Great Pyramids in Giza, on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt, November 4, 2024. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File photo CAIRO - Egypt's Pyramids hope to rally local support for Sunday's African Champions League final as they face the possibility of hosting the second leg in a near-empty stadium in Cairo against South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns. Coach Krunoslav Jurcic said it would be a "miracle" if his side could attract support from a city whose citizens overwhelmingly back one of the two traditional Cairo giants -- Al Ahly or Zamalek. Pyramids have emerged from their shadow to contest a first Champions League final and battled to a 1-1 draw away in Pretoria in the first leg. "We are expecting tomorrow a lot of people in the stadium. This will be a miracle," Jurcic told a press conference on Saturday at the June 30 Stadium on the outskirts of the Egyptian capital. "Lately, a lot of people have been speaking positively about Pyramids. They are supporters of other clubs in Egypt, but they will come to watch because Pyramids is an Egyptian club. "Tomorrow, all of Egypt will be with Pyramids, and this is our big success, this is the miracle for us," the Croatian coach said. They had only a few thousand in the stands when they triumphed in a high-tempo semi-final against another South Africa club Orlando Pirates last month. Pyramids moved to Cairo in 2018 and changed their name under new Saudi owners. They have since been taken over by investors from the United Arab Emirates but failed to attract much support despite challenging the traditional duopoly in recent years. But Jurcic made it clear they were still treated as outsiders as he again criticised Egypt's football association, which made them play a league game on Wednesday. "Where else in the world is a club forced to play a local match a few days before they compete in a Champions League final?," he said. Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso, however, said he did not think it would have any effect on Pyramids' chances in the final. "They rested most of their key players on Wednesday," he said of Pyramids' 5-1 win over Ceramica Cleopatra in their last league fixture of the season. Cardoso also did not think a small crowd would hinder their hosts. "They are used to playing without fans and they still fight for their championship and got to the Champions League final. It's not because of that that they didn't perform," Cardoso added. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Chicago Tribune
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
This is what dominance looks like for Kamilla Cardoso. Can the Chicago Sky center stay consistent in Year 2?
On the right day, Kamilla Cardoso can't be stopped. And Thursday was one of those days. Or, more accurately, a wrong day for any member of the Dallas Wings frontcourt. Cardoso bludgeoned the Wings for the Chicago Sky's first 10 points of the 97-92 win. For 26 minutes, Cardoso put on a clinic for post play — diving to the low block for layups, crashing through defenders to draw fouls and slipping under her man for seals. Cardoso set a new career-high with her 23 points. And her play on the other end of the court — swallowing up opponents on defense in the post and passing off mismatches to create kick-out 3-point opportunities — headlined the first win of the Sky season. 'I played with confidence,' Cardoso said. 'I finally saw the work that I put in in the offseason translate into this game.' This is the version of Cardoso that the Sky have been seeking ever since they drafted the Brazilian center with the No. 3 pick last spring. At 6-foot-7, Cardoso looms over most of her competition — and her physical advantages extend far beyond her height. The center's size belies her agile feet and remarkable speed, allowing her to space the floor and crash the boards with the swiftness of a smaller player. But despite these clear advantages, Cardoso's rookie season was somewhat muted. She averaged 9.8 points and 7.9 rebounds. Cardoso often scored in bunches, showing flashes of her physical dominance for a quarter and then receding from the game entirely. Some of this disconnect can be attributed to a shoulder injury that caused her to start the season late and end it early. But Cardoso consistently emphasized that her confidence — or lack thereof — was the driving difference between single- and double-digit performances. To coach Tyler Marsh, connecting with this dominant version of Cardoso isn't just a tactical challenge — it's entirely predicated on the center's mental approach. 'I think that Kamilla can be a dominant force in this league pretty much on a nightly basis when her mind is made up to do so,' Marsh said. 'It's part of what I talk about with giving young players grace, because they got to grow into that. It's not something that we can just expect from them from the jump. 'Learning how to be that nightly, that's part of being a pro and it's part of understanding what her talent is and what her potential is. We just want to put her in positions where she's able to do that and see that so it can be a regular thing.' At times last season, Cardoso appeared to disengage entirely from the game in front of her. This isn't unusual for rookies who are overloaded by the mental burden of learning a new system while also familiarizing themselves with new personnel and attempting to keep up with the elevated pace of play. Even as a second-year player, it's hard to stay engaged for a 40-minute game. That was still true at the end of Thursday's first quarter, when Cardoso turned around from a routine rebound and threw an awkward, thoughtless pass straight into the hands of the Wings' Paige Bueckers. The mistake was so surprising that Cardoso — in a moment of youthful earnestness — clapped both of her hands over her mouth in shock before scrambling back and ultimately fouling Arike Ogunbowale. But even with that error, her performance was more dialed in than any from the 2024 season. Cardoso threw herself on the ground in pursuit of loose balls twice, sending smaller guards scrambling out of the way. The center shuffled quickly off the ball in help defense, passed out of double teams and connected relentlessly on screens with veteran guard Courtney Vandersloot. Beyond recording a crucial win, Marsh believes Thursday's game played an important role in Cardoso's development to show her that she's fully capable of exceeding her own expectations. 'It's a two-way street,' Marsh said. 'There's a level of responsibility on our end as a staff to put her in positions to be successful, and then she's got to approach the game day-to-day with that mindset of how dominant she can be. 'We want her to understand how impactful and how important she is to us on the defensive end and the offensive end. Hopefully that continues to breed trust in herself, just like we have in her.' Confidence is key. But Vandersloot offered an additional solution to firing up Cardoso — get her the ball. The Sky want plays to start with Cardoso just as often as they end with her. In Marsh's new system, the center operates in a fulcrum role designed to pass through and around the post position, requiring Cardoso to facilitate from the perimeter and nail. Cardoso feels her passing is the most underrated aspect of her game — and Vandersloot, one of the greatest passing guards in the history of the sport, agrees. 'She needs to touch the ball a lot,' Vandersloot said. 'She's so unselfish, she's a great passer and I think she understands the game really well. So we have to play through her more often.' Thursday's outing also informed the Sky how they should proceed in striking a balance between Cardoso and forward Angel Reese. The pair's lowlights of struggling through contact on the low block are mostly a symptom of desperation — especially last season, when the Sky offense lacked ball movement and rhythm. Both players are more unselfish than many game scenarios allow them to showcase, willingly passing off looks in the post and slinging skip passes across the arc to produce 3-point looks. The Sky aim to play a more spaced-out style of basketball. That has meant a sacrifice for Reese, who is playing further away from the basket and taking significantly fewer shots. But this style also leans into the forward's potential as a high-low distributor to play in tandem with Cardoso. Reese assisted on three of Cardoso's baskets in Thursday's win, a reflection of how this dynamic can space the floor and fuel the offense. The Sky's entire success is intertwined with the growth of Cardoso and Reese. And on Thursday, the Sky caught a glimpse of a future defined by the dominance of their center. Now, it's up to Cardoso — and the team around her — to prove this can become an everyday affair.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Chicago Sky Coach Facing Decision After Player's Strong Message
Chicago Sky Coach Facing Decision After Player's Strong Message originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Chicago Sky broke a four-game losing streak on Thursday evening and earned their first win of the 2025 WNBA season. The victory came at the hands of the Dallas Wings, who are now 1-5 after the 97 to 92 defeat. Advertisement Second-year forward Kamilla Cardoso led the Sky in scoring with 23 points, and she also chipped in eight rebounds. Cardoso made nine of her 13 attempts as well on Thursday, and that 69.2% clip was her best performance of the year. This raises her season averages to 12.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per night on 54.7% shooting. This is substantially better than her 9.8-point, 7.9-rebound per game averages at a 52.1% mark that earned her a spot on the 2024 All-Rookie team last season. Chicago Sky forward Kamilla Cardoso (10).Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images Cardoso was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, but she was largely outshined by All-Star forward Angel Reese last season. Reese scored 13.6 points per night and contributed a WNBA-record 13.1 rebounds per game in 2024. Advertisement However, new head coach Tyler Marsh is facing a difficult decision about how to structure the offense going forward. Veteran guard Courtney Vandersloot, who broke the Sky's all-time scoring record on Thursday, sent a strong message after the game about the team needing to play through Cardoso. 'I think she needs to touch the ball a lot,' Vandersloot said. 'We have to play through her. She likes to feel it and she's so unselfish. She's a great passer and I think she understands the game really well and so we have to play through her more often.' Vandersloot is a legendary figure in the franchise's history, and she is contributing a solid 11.4 points and 6.0 assists this season for Chicago. Her voice is held in high regard, and coach Marsh himself acknowledged just how special of a player Cardoso can be. Advertisement 'I think that Kamilla can be a dominant force in this league, pretty much on a nightly basis,' Marsh said. 'Learning how to be that nightly is part of being a pro and it's part of understanding what her talent is and what her potential is. We just want to put her in positions where she's able to do that and see that so it can be a regular thing.' The Sky will face the Wings once again on Saturday evening, as they travel to Dallas for an 8:00 p.m. EST tipoff. Chicago will look to put together a winning streak for the first time in the 2025 WNBA season. Related: Chicago Sky Announce Exciting News After First Win Related: Kamilla Cardoso Sends Message After Chicago Sky Teammate's Historic News This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kamilla Cardoso Sends Message After Chicago Sky Teammate's Historic News
Kamilla Cardoso Sends Message After Chicago Sky Teammate's Historic News originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Chicago Sky finally got in the win column during the 2025 WNBA season as they snapped a four-game losing streak on Thursday evening. They hosted the Dallas Wings at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, who they ended up defeating by a score of 97 to 92. Advertisement While 2024 All-Rookie forward Kamilla Cardoso scored a career-high 23 points in the victory, veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot put on a show as well. The 15-year veteran scored 13 points and added nine rebounds and five steals. Vandersloot also broke the Chicago Sky's all-time franchise scoring record against the Wings on Thursday as she now sits at 3,728 points. Chicago Sky guard Courtney Vandersloot (22).Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images Cardoso and Vandersloot showed increased chemistry during team's triumph over the Wings, which led to Cardoso's 9-for-13 shooting performance on Thursday. This 69.2% mark from the floor is her highest in 2025 so far. After the game, Cardoso spoke to the media about Vandersloot after the historic milestone that she achieved against Dallas. Cardoso touched on how impactful she has been for the team, as well as what Vandersloot means to her personally. Advertisement 'She's an amazing point guard, so she's gonna find you wherever you are if you are open,' Cardoso said. 'I feel like the connection's been going on … It's amazing to have her here and play with her because she's a vet and she's always helping me and telling me to turn the page and keep going and stay confident in myself.' Chicago now holds a 1-4 record, which places them fifth in the Eastern Conference Standings. They are now a game ahead of the 0-5 Connecticut Sun, but still trail by one game to the 2-3 Indiana Fever. The Sky will play their next game on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. EST. They will travel down to Dallas to take on the 1-5 Wings for the second consecutive game. Advertisement Related: Chicago Sky Announce Exciting News After First Win Related: Angel Reese Shares First Look of Her Signature Reebok Shoe This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
