The Chicago Sky sent shockwaves through social media after drafting a pair of NCAA Women’s Basketball Champions in Kamilla Cardoso (South Carolina) and Angel Reese (LSU). After the initial excitement of standing on stage and hearing your name called, you quickly have to recover and prepare to handle business. In-person questions, phone interviews, and Zoom calls are all a part of the press runs they’ll have to make before the night ends (and more than likely throughout the week).
Below you’ll find the transcript from both Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese. First, we’ll begin with ‘Bayou Barbie’ herself, Angel Reese. She details her emotions before being drafted, who she’s looking forward to facing this season, her relationship with Kamilla, and how she wasn’t 100% sure the Sky would take her.
What have your conversations been like leading up to this moment with the Sky, with Teresa if at all? And I’m curious if you were paying attention to some of these mock drafts that had you going to the Sky.
[ANGEL REESE]: My conversations were great with T Spoon. As you know, she was coached by Coach Mulkey, so I kind of thought maybe I’ll go there. Knowing that the conversations were so good and she felt like a mother to me. Being able to be a Black woman and as a head coach, and everything she’s done at the NBA level, I just knew everything they were bringing to the table.
Jeff (Pagliocca), the GM, was amazing, too, and player development is something that I was looking for and they looked for in me. I’m super excited for this move, and I’m just looking forward to getting to Chicago.
You’ve talked in detail about how much intensity, effort, and competitiveness you bring to the floor. Specifically, we got to see you and Kamilla battle for years against each other, now you’re going to be on the same team. What are you looking forward to about combining both of your talents and playing together instead of against?
[ANGEL REESE]: My first time playing Kamilla was on one of the biggest stages in my life when she played for Hamilton Heights and I played for St. Frances in high school and we battled. Now being able to be teammates is going to be amazing.
I actually talked to her earlier, was congratulating her. I know she came off an amazing run, an amazing college career. I’m looking forward to playing with her in practice and in games, just bouncing off of each other. So I’m excited for this.
What motivational quote do you live by, and also, if you could pick a movie that describes how you’re emotionally feeling right now, what movie would it be and why?
[ANGEL REESE]: Okay, so the quote I live by is “Every day the sun don’t shine but that’s why I love tomorrows.” Every day the sun don’t shine but I love tomorrow. Every day is not going to be a great day and a lot of times in my life I felt like I was down, but I always looked to the next day because I knew something else was great or something greater was going to happen. That’s the quote I live by. I don’t know. I don’t know what movie right now.
What are you looking forward to most in Chicago?
[ANGEL REESE]: Ooh, summertime Chi-town. To be cute on and off the court. I’ve always been to Chicago. The shopping is great. Just the lifestyle. I’m excited. I feel like I’m a Chi-town girl.
Q. Wanted to ask you when you’re introduced on game day, what song will be playing for you if you could pick it?
[ANGEL REESE]: Something Megan Thee Stallion. I love Megan Thee Stallion. Megan Thee Stallion or Beyoncé.
You’ve obviously seen the impact here in America that this Draft class has had on everybody over the last four years. I’m wondering if you’ve had a chance to reflect on the global impact, particularly in places like Asia and Australia.
[ANGEL REESE]: I have had so many people reach out to me from so many different places. Understanding our impact isn’t just within our school, within just the U.S., but it’s worldwide. It’s amazing to see.
Going out of the country when we go out of the country with my team, with LSU, it was like so much fun because they all recognized us and they knew us and it felt like home. I feel like anywhere we all go, and this draft class is amazing, anywhere we go, we’re known. This is super cool because women aren’t usually recognized around the world like how we are, and it’s not even just basketball. It’s the impact we’ve left on people’s lives outside of there. It’s super cool to see.
You are very talented and you’re also part of a really talented Draft class. Who are you most excited to play off against?
[ANGEL REESE]: I think our duo, me and Kamilla versus Cam and Rickea is going to be cool to see. That’s going to be fun.
What message do you have for those high school girls in Baltimore who are looking up to you?
[ANGEL REESE]: Just be you. A lot of people may just tell you that you can’t do certain things, and you’re going to get more yeses and nos, and I had to realize that. Just being able to be authentic, and people love me because of who I am. I had those tough conversations. I say things that a lot of people are scared to say and take that scary step. I took a scary step of faith going to LSU, not knowing what could happen, and look how my life has completely changed. Being able to just believe in yourself, trust in yourself, and have an amazing team behind me is great.
Q. Can you talk a little bit about that emotion going from the last few months to having your name called a few moments ago?
[ANGEL REESE]: I mean, I didn’t know what I was going to do. Obviously coming back would have been amazing for me, but I wanted more for myself. I wanted to start over. I feel like I had been at a high since the National Championship, and I want to hit rock bottom. I want to be a rookie again. I want to be knocked down by vets, and I want to be able to get up and grow and be a sponge.
I’m just super excited to play with the amazing players and against amazing players. This league is really competitive and I’m a competitive player, so I want to play against a lot of great players.
Q. Can you talk me through all the emotions you were feeling when you heard your name called?
[ANGEL REESE]: Well, my mom was crying before the show even started, so it started there. Then my brother was like agitating me, I bet you $100 that you cry, I bet you $100 that you cry. He kind of got me, too. And I had a great conversation like she was saying, with Chicago, so I kind of knew — if it wasn’t the Mystics, I knew it was going to be Chicago that was going to be calling me home.
First and foremost, to be in this class, one of the most highly anticipated classes, considered to be the game changers, what does that mean to you?
[ANGEL REESE]: It means everything. I mean, like I said, on and off the court, we’re amazing. We’re not just basketball players, we’re super impactful to the community, the people around us, the little kids that look up to us, and being able to also be nationwide, everybody knows us everywhere we go. Our lives aren’t normal. We might get a little bit of normalcy going into the league now, but I’m just excited to be a trailblazer. I’m excited to be a part of history, and just continue to see the future, and I know it’s bright.
Next we have Kamilla Cardoso. The Brazilian powerhouse expounds on her adventure from Brazil to the U.S., her Draft experience, and thoughts on playing with Angel Reese.
You will be coached by one of the legends of the game in Teresa Weatherspoon after being coached by another legend in Dawn Staley. What does it mean to be coached by two legends of the game?
[KAMILLA CARDOSO]: It means the most to me. Just tells me that I’m going to be in good hands, and I’m just excited to get there and get to work with her.
Q. Just talk about the experience that you enjoyed today. I know you said it was your first time at the Empire State Building earlier. Just talk about what a day it’s been for you.
[KAMILLA CARDOSO]: It’s been an amazing day. It was my first time over there. Just a nice view.
Getting my hair done and my makeup done was also amazing. Getting here, getting drafted was amazing. It’s just been a really special moment for me, and everything is going just like I dreamt of.
Q. I just wanted to know as a big big, as somebody who is following in the tradition we’ve seen in this league, who are some of the players you are most hoping to emulate, whether it’s a Sylvia Fowles — where do you see your pattern emerging in this league?
[KAMILLA CARDOSO]: I would say just getting in the league and bringing my winning leadership, my winning mentality. We won two national championships, so…
Q. What is it that you’re looking forward to the most competing at this level compared to when you were competing for national championships?
[KAMILLA CARDOSO]: Just getting better, being more physical, more competition. I’m just excited to get out there and play with some of the big names in women’s basketball.
Could you have ever imagined that you’d be sitting here today as a No. 3 pick when you were growing up in Brazil, before even making the jump to come play overseas here in the U.S.?
[KAMILLA CARDOSO]: Yeah, I feel like that was the dream, but honestly, no, I didn’t really expect this. I’m just so proud that I am here right now. I know little Kamilla, when I was 13 years old, is also proud. I’m just excited to be here and happy.
Q. You were kind of emotional with Holly Rowe. I just want to ask how would you summarize everything from winning the national championship to getting drafted? What was going through your mind in that moment?
[KAMILLA CARDOSO]: It’s been a crazy couple of days. I’m just so proud of my teammates for winning the national championship. I’m just so happy to be here.
I got really emotional because the main goal was to get here and being able to give my family a better life, and just by looking at them and seeing them at my table was amazing. I obviously get emotional when I talk about my family because I’m so proud of everything I was able to accomplish and do for them.
Q. Angel Reese was just drafted, seventh to the Sky. How do you think your games will complement each other?
[KAMILLA CARDOSO]: I think it’s going to be great. She’s a great player. I’m a great player. So two great players together. Nobody is going to get no rebounds on us.
Q. Have you ever been to Chicago, and what are your thoughts about the city and coming here?
[KAMILLA CARDOSO]: This is actually going to be my first time in Chicago. I’m really excited. I’ve heard really good things about it. You have some of the best pizzas. I’m excited to get there.
Q. I was wondering if you were aware of the global attention around women’s basketball and around you and your team. Are you planning on playing someday in the future in Europe or somewhere else?
[KAMILLA CARDOSO]: Yeah, I would like to go play overseas somewhere. I think that gets you better. Every time I played for my national team, it got me better somehow. So I’m excited to go to the WNBA and be able to play overseas somewhere.
Q. You are one of 13 Gamecocks in training camp this year. What about Dawn Staley and that program really brings people ready for this next level?
[KAMILLA CARDOSO]: Yeah, I feel like that tells you a lot about Coach Staley. She gets you ready for this level. She gets you prepared for whenever you step to the next level, and like I said, that just tells you everything about her. She gets you super prepared for the league.
Q. Kamilla, with everything that you were able to accomplish at the collegiate level, what do you think is going to be a great first-year accomplishment for you in the WNBA?
[KAMILLA CARDOSO]: I don’t know, I’m just excited to get there, get to work, learn from the best, and just step up my game. Step my game up.
Q. After such a great experience in the NCAAs, playing under Dawn Staley, how do you envision yourself into the WNBA? What is your main goal as a WNBA player?
[KAMILLA CARDOSO]: My main goal as a WNBA player is just to step my game, being a sponge, soaking in everything from everybody, learn each and every day, and be a better version of myself each and every day. Be open to learning new stuff and stay ready.
Q. What has been your conversation so far with Teresa and Jeff (Pagliocca)? And which player — I guess any specific that you’re most looking forward to joining forces with within the Sky?
[KAMILLA CARDOSO]: My conversations with them have been amazing. I’m all about energy. She has a great energy. He has a great energy. I’m just excited to get there and get to work with them. And about specific to me, I’m just excited to meet the whole team.
Q. Angel was just selected with the No. 7 overall pick. What are your thoughts on you two being a frontcourt of the future for the Chicago Sky?
[KAMILLA CARDOSO]: I’m happy. I’m really excited. She’s a great player. I’m a great player. I think we’re going to do great things together.