Kamilla Cardoso gets painfully honest about her 11 free throws in Chicago Sky win

Kamilla Cardoso delivered one of her most dominant performances of the season to help the Chicago Sky rally past the Connecticut Sun, but it was her success at the free-throw line that stood out after the game. The second-year center credited both her aggressive approach and a long-awaited whistle for finally getting frequent trips to the charity stripe.

Cardoso finished with a game-high 18 points in the fourth quarter alone, leading the Sky’s comeback in a hard-fought victory. Throughout the final period, Chicago repeatedly turned to its talented center, who responded by attacking the paint and forcing Connecticut’s defense into difficult situations. Her physical play created scoring opportunities while allowing the Sky to control the game’s momentum down the stretch.

One of the biggest differences in Cardoso’s performance was the number of free throws she attempted. After earning 11 attempts from the line, she admitted it had been so long since she received that many opportunities that she could hardly remember the last time it happened. Cardoso believed the increased attempts were the result of her determination to attack the basket combined with officials recognizing the contact she was drawing inside.

That aggressive mindset proved critical for Chicago’s offense. Rather than settling for contested jump shots, Cardoso consistently established position near the rim and challenged defenders to stop her without fouling. Her willingness to embrace contact not only produced easy scoring chances but also disrupted Connecticut’s defensive rhythm during the closing minutes of the contest.

Chicago Sky Star Kamilla Cardoso Reacts to 11 Free Throws in Win Over Connecticut Sun

Cardoso shared her thoughts about shooting a lot of free throws during Chicago’s win over the Sun. This can be seen in a video posted by Chicago State of Mind Sports.

WATCH: Kamilla Cardoso on her season high 11 FT attempts.

Q: @colincsalao

#Skytown pic.twitter.com/3itWp4xRQf

— Chicago State of Mind Sports (@ChiStateOfMind_) July 31, 2026

“Finally,” Cardoso said. “ I don’t remember the last time I shot a free throw. Honestly, I think it was a little of both. Just me being aggressive and the refs finally giving me a call.”

Cardoso’s continued development has become one of the Sky’s brightest storylines this season. Already known for her rebounding, interior defense and post scoring, the 6-foot-7 center is beginning to show greater confidence as a featured offensive option. When she combines that growing assertiveness with consistent trips to the free-throw line, she becomes an even more difficult matchup for opposing frontcourts.

The team hopes this performance serves as a turning point as the regular season continues. If Cardoso maintains the same attacking mentality and continues earning opportunities at the foul line, the Sky will have another dependable offensive weapon capable of taking over games and leading the team through crucial stretches of the season.

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Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/sky-news-kamilla-cardoso-11-free-throws/