By Alexandra Harper 
Skylar Diggins and Kamilla Cardoso are the first two players in WNBA history to have a double-double in the first game of the season.
A lot of people were excited at the Moda Center on Saturday nite when the Chicago Sky beat the new Portland Fire 98–83 to start the 2026 WNBA season.
When Kamilla Cardoso and Skylar Diggins played their first regular-season game together, they made history right away. When the Sky beat the new Portland Fire 98–83, they became the first teammates in WNBA history to each score 20 points in the first game of the season. This historic first game of the WNBA season also went down in team history as the game with the second-highest score.
Cardoso and Diggins score 43 points together.
The Chicago Sky found their flow in the first game of the season. Cardoso and Diggins had a great game, scoring a total of 43 points. They set the tone early on and kept both ends under control, which gave Chicago an offensive edge that stayed with them the whole game. The press meeting after the game can be seen here.
For the most part, the Sky set themselves apart through their size, discipline, and inner dominance. They built a clear early identity around physicality and execution. Chicago showed it can win in a number of ways, including through scoring bursts, defensive stops, and just sheer rebounding pressure, with Cardoso holding the paint and Diggins setting the pace.
Head coach Tyler Marsh liked how well Chicago’s guards and interior presence worked together and made decisions. He also liked how the Sky always found ways to deal with what Portland gave them defensively. He talked about how Kamilla Cardoso could change her timing and angles when screening, which kept the defense off guard and gave her clean looks all game long.
The Powerful Pair
The Chicago Sky made headlines a few days ago for their aggressive roster overhaul, which included waiving Hailey Van Lith and several 2025 draft picks. Diggins and Cardoso then played in a way that immediately supported the team’s “win-now” strategy.
From the first tip, Chicago played with speed, teamwork, and the kind of confidence that comes from fully accepting your new identity as a team. The two players also made franchise history. It was only the third time in Chicago Sky history that more than one player scored 20 points or more and grabbed 10 or more boards in the same game. There were a lot of questions about roster choices and the team’s new direction this week, but Chicago replied early with one of its best offensive games.
The Sky started the 2026 season with a win and are now 1-0 for the first time in three years. This was made possible by strong individual play and control of the boards. They played quickly and with confidence, which is how they want this season to go. Diggins set the pace with her experienced presence, and Cardoso held down the middle with her strength and confidence all nite. Cardoso scored 22 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, and Diggins added 21 points and 11 rebounds. This gave Chicago one of the best starts in the league right away.
Inside the updated roster for Sky
Skylar Diggins, a veteran guard, led the way for the new Chicago Sky team. His presence changed the level of control and energy on the court right away. The seven-time All-Star made an impact in every part of the game. She finished with 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists, making it clear again why the team brought her to Chicago.
Diggins played with the edge and competitiveness that have made her famous over the course of her career. She set the tone for a team that wants to become more successful and disciplined this season. Aside from the stats, what stood out all nite was her control of the offense, defensive energy, and strong leadership. All five of the Sky’s starters scored in double figures, and the team looked connected, sure of itself, and enjoying the energy inside the venue.
It took Kamilla Cardoso a long time and a lot of hard work to become the head of Sky. She moved to the U.S. when she was 15 to play basketball after being born in Montes Claros, Brazil. She played high school basketball in Tennessee and then played college basketball. She went through one of the most famous women’s basketball programs in history at South Carolina, where Dawn Staley was the coach. There, she won two national titles and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2024 Final Four. The Chicago Sky then picked her with the third pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
Cardoso dominated the first game of the season, scoring 22 points and grabbing 14 rebounds, eight of which were offensive boards that helped the Sky keep possessions longer and change the tide in their favor. Her ability to run the floor, guard the rim, and be active on the glass for her size gave Chicago a clear interior presence to balance its scoring from the perimeter. This shows that the team is committed to rebuilding its front court around size, dominance, and interior control.
In Chicago, Rickea Jackson is already making her mark. Jackson became one of the Sparks’ young offensive weapons last season. He brought the same scoring confidence and physicality to the Sky, where he scored 19 points and tied his career high with eight made free throws. Jackson is in Chicago already, and people can feel her. showing right away to be an attacking spark.
Natasha Cloud gives the Sky a tougher and more urgent look as they continue to find their own style. Even though Cloud wasn’t able to play in the first game because he was sick, his defensive mindset, leadership, and vocal presence were still felt throughout the nite. Along with Skylar Diggins’s control of the offense and Rickea Jackson’s ability to score in a variety of ways, Chicago’s new core is starting to take shape around intensity, speed, and physicality.
As a rookie, Gabriela Jaquez made a calm first start for her team. She ended the game with 10 points and 7 rebounds in 32 minutes. On the outside, Jacy Sheldon scored 13 points, dished out four assists, and set a new career high with three blocks. He helped set the tone for a defense that was busy and disruptive all nite against Portland.
Gabriela Jaquez, the over-2026 draft pick who is already making a name for herself as a guard, is still one of the most interesting early stories. Her speed, energy, and fearlessness made her stand out right away, which is exactly the kind of player Chicago wants to build around.
On the Street
The Sky were able to get 11 turnovers back thanks to their +22 rebounding margin. Portland could only get three offensive rebounds, which made it hard for the Fire to get into the rhythm they needed to finish the comeback.
The Sky play the first of four games on the road this coming Wednesday, May 13, when they go to San Francisco to play the Golden State Valkyries (1-0). Golden State is coming off a win against Seattle on opening nite and will be going up against Chicago to try to get their first-ever club win.
The game starts at 9:00 p.m. CT at the Chase Center, and The U will show local coverage.