3 things we learned from Chicago Sky’s preseason opener, including Angel Reese’s new role and a focus on 3s

BATON ROUGE, La. — The Chicago Sky opened their preseason with an 89-62 win over Brazil, a unique opportunity that brought Angel Reese and Hailey Van Lith back to LSU while pitting Kamilla Cardoso against her national team.

It was a well-balanced steamrolling by the Sky, who used all 18 players on their training camp roster. Every player scored, although Reese was the only one to finish in double digits.

Everything from the game has to be taken with a whole shaker of salt. The Sky wanted to get every player significant minutes, which means the rotations are not reflective of the expectations for the season. And Brazil fielded a young roster that included many high school and college athletes, which means this was not WNBA-caliber competition.

Still, the game offered a glimpse at how coach Tyler Marsh plans to approach his debut season tactically — and which players might fit best into that system.

Here are three things we learned.

1. Is the 3-point problem fixed?

The Sky averaged 14.9 attempts from 3-point range last season. That number was last in the league and a major factor in the team’s offensive stagnancy.

By halftime Friday, the Sky had put up 12 attempts from deep. They finished only 7-for-29 (24%), but the makes aren’t the point — only one week into the preseason, it seems the Sky might have fixed their 3-point problem. Five players knocked down a 3, and 11 logged at least one attempt.

The sudden increase in volume is a reflection of a more healthy, cohesive style that emphasizes ball movement and facilitation to create shots at the perimeter and basket. Guards were relocating endlessly off the ball, which created movement for cuts to the rim. And the Sky finished with 21 assists, including five apiece from veteran Courtney Vandersloot and rookie Van Lith.

The Sky won’t take 29 3-point attempts every game — and that’s fine. They don’t even need to lead the league in 3s. But this concerted effort to create looks from deep is a crucial foundation for establishing an offense in which every position can succeed.

2. Angel Reese was on the ball

Spacing is the name of the game for the Sky this season — and that starts with adjusting the role of Reese, who will be playing farther from the rim and more on the ball under Marsh.

“They want me on the perimeter,” Reese said. “There’s not a lot of fours or a lot of fives in the league that are as versatile as me and Kamilla. And we love that. We love our frontcourt and being able to do that together.”

Chicago Sky’s preseason game at LSU provides homecoming for Angel Reese, Hailey Van Lith and Kamilla Cardoso

Despite having only four practices in the new system before Friday’s game, Reese looked fairly comfortable with the expectations in Marsh’s system. She spent more time at the perimeter setting up guards such as Vandersloot with screens, then looked to dive to the rim when space opened up in the lane. And when left completely unguarded just inside the top of the arc, Reese knocked down a patient jump shot.

Brazil’s lack of perimeter pressure didn’t offer Reese much of a challenge with the ball in her hands. And there’s plenty of work left for Reese to smooth out her handles, improve her decision making in kick-outs and connect with Cardoso. But if the forward can continue to push the ball in transition and knock down open midrange shots, her game will open up in a truly dynamic way.

3. Who will make the cut?

The Sky made their first round of roster cuts Saturday, waiving guards Tilly Boler, Arella Guirantes and Sammie Puisis. The subtractions made it clear where the Sky’s priorities lie for filling out the final two roster spots.

Van Lith, the No. 11 pick in the draft last month, appears all but set to make the roster. And that means the final spot will need to be filled by a frontcourt player — either second-round pick Maddy Westbeld, Jessika Carter or Morgan Bertsch.

Westbeld stood out in her WNBA preseason debut, logging the most playing time out of this group with nearly 12 minutes on the court. The rookie knocked down both of her shots, including a transition layup through contact. She earned praise from Marsh for her ability to run the floor and versatility as a stretch big.

Westbeld could have made a larger impact on the boards, but her early chemistry with Van Lith offered an exciting prospect for the team’s youth foundation.

Carter is still an appealing option for the Sky due to her length, versatility and physicality. Bertsch has made less of a splash in training camp, although her consistency as a floor-spacer could fit the team’s needs.

The Sky have the option to waive a guard if they wish to add a frontcourt player to their guard-heavy lineup. But due to the spaced-out nature of the offense, the Sky might be more comfortable sticking with their current balance while sliding a lengthier wing such as Rebecca Allen down to the four when needed.