Top 3 takeaways from Sky's final preseason game

The Chicago Sky closed out their preseason on the road with a loss to the Minnesota Lynx, 92-87. With this being the last preseason game, there's three things to keep an eye on as they prepare for final roster cuts and their season opener against the Indiana Fever.

Vandersloot's vital impact

Courtney Vandersloot was sidelined in a game-time decision for the final preseason game due to a rib injury, giving Rachel Banham the reins of the offense. While Banham came out and shot lights out with three early triples, the assisting ability that Vandersloot provides was definitely missing. She has a knack for making any offense to look seamless and smooth.

"I think we just share the ball really well," Banham said after the game. "No one's going to play like Sloot. She's incredible, and the way that she plays is just different. For me, just getting us into the offense and just sharing the ball. We trust each other. We all can shoot the 3 so just sharing the ball."

While it was clunky to start, the Sky did find a way to iron things out in the end, putting up a team total 20 assists on 29 made shots.

Cardoso embracing her size

Kamilla Cardoso has been somewhat quiet this preseason with a lot of focus on what the perimeter game will look like for the Sky and rookie development. However, she is showing a huge growth in confidence on both ends of the court. "That [aggressiveness] is what we want from Kamilla," head coach Tyler Marsh said after the game. "She's a commanding presence down low. She commnads so much attention that allows Angel to cut free in the paint and allows our shooters to space the floor. It opens up a lot when we're able to get it inside to her. It will continue to be a focal point."

Cardoso finished with 13 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocked shots and an assist . Across all three preseason games, she racked up 29 points, 24 rebounds and 7 blocked shots in just 61 minutes of play. If this is just a glimpse of how Marsh is wanting to use the 6-foot-7 center, she's bound to be incredibly productive inside all season long.

Who will fill that final roster spot?

After the three preseason games, all eyes on who will Marsh and general manager Jeff Pagliocca fill that final roster spot for the 2025 season. Hailey Van Lith has sealed her position on the team, but if the Sky carry 12 players, who will be player No. 12?

If you look at the overall roster, the Sky need more depth at the forward position than anywhere else. For that reason alone, I believe Ally Wilson will not make the team. So that leaves Jessika Carter, Morgan Bertsch and rookie draft pick Maddy Westbeld.

We've seen very few glimpses of Bertsch all training camp. When we have seen her, it's reminiscent of her time in Chicago in 2023: there is a hot hand but slow up and down the court. With the Sky wanting to play at an exhobirtantly fast pace, I believe Bertsch will also not make the roster.

That leaves Carter and Westbeld. If the Sky was in desperate need for more size, Carter would be a lock. However, with Cardoso, Reese and Williams, size is not a top priority. Westbeld provides extra size and more versatility in what she can play; with development, she could play 2-4. Her ability to stretch the floor is something Marsh and Pagliocca loved from her on draft night as well as having a hot shooting hand.

So, in my opinion, Westbeld will make that 12th slot on the 2025 Chicago Sky roster. Teams have until May 15 to send in their final rosters for the 2025 WNBA season with league season opener set for May 16.

The Sky's first regular season game is on the road on May 17 when they take on the Indiana Fever. Tip time is set for 2 p.m. CT on ABC.

Tune in on Tuesday, May 13 for a new episode of Courtside with Karli Bell.