No doubt, Angel Reese was nothing short of electric at Crypto.com Arena, dropping 16 points and 11 rebounds, including 11 clutch points in the fourth quarter to seal the Chicago Sky’s 92-85 win over the Sparks. And while her performance may have made it look easy—trust me, it wasn’t—even though the Chicago Sky led three of the four quarters.
Just consider this: after Chicago jumped ahead with an early 48-36 lead in the third quarter, L.A. stormed back with a 17-3 run, flipping the momentum. Yet, it was Reese’s clutch buckets and late-game grit that ultimately tilted the game back in the Sky’s favor. But, despite delivering that incredible feat, when Chi-town barbie credited a “veteran force” for the Sky’s surprise win, she wasn’t talking about herself!
Chicago Sky veteran throws down the gauntlet!
Well, it was Elizabeth Williams she was talking about in the postgame press conference when asked, “But what touched it right for you all in that fourth quarter—in terms of team control?” Angel Reese didn’t hesitate to give credit where it was due. “I mean, kudos to Eve. She’s done a great job stepping up and being in that role. I mean, a lot of times you have a vet like that who just brings the right energy every single day.”
And no doubt, Reese was right, especially considering that Kamilla Cardoso’s absence could’ve easily become the Chicago Sky’s Achilles’ heel. With the 6’7” Brazilian center off representing her country at the AmeriCup, the Sky lost their most dominant interior presence, someone averaging 7.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, and whose physicality down low had become central to the Sky’s defensive identity.
Jun 24, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) and Los Angeles Sparks forward Rickea Jackson (2) react during the first half at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
And the timing? Even more painful. Just days before her departure, Cardoso went full beast mode against the Phoenix Mercury, dropping 17 points on 7-for-9 shooting, including a silky baseline jumper. Well, HC Tyler Marsh said it best: “She asserted herself early today. She did a good job of being aggressive before they could bring double-teams.” Well, her presence was so overwhelming that Chicago won the points-in-the-paint battle 36-30—the only category they led in during a tough 107-86 loss.
Even Williams had praised her back then: “When she plays with that effort and that dominance, she’s hard to stop.” So, when Cardoso stepped away temporarily, it felt like the Sky were about to lose their defensive spine. But before anything could go wrong, Elizabeth Williams flipped the script. Stepping in as starting center against the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena, the 11-year WNBA veteran delivered exactly what the Sky needed: experience, leadership, and quiet dominance. Just consider, she put up 12 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks, anchoring the defense while providing crucial support to Angel Reese, who erupted for 24 points and 16 boards.
So, it wasn’t really a surprise that Coach Marsh gave Williams her flowers too: “[Angel and Elizabeth] set the tone early. Those two asserted themselves inside.” And the numbers backed it up too as together, Reese and Williams combined for 36 points and 25 rebounds, a paint presence that shut down any lingering concerns about Cardoso’s absence.
So, while Ezy’s overall season numbers in 2025, 7.1 points with 4.1 rebounds in 18.1 minutes of game play might not scream “starter,” but her impact goes far beyond the stat sheet. Especially considering that just last season, she averaged 10.0 points with 7.0 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, and 1.7 steals, making her one of the league’s most versatile defenders.
And against the Sparks, she revived that 2024 version of herself when the Sky needed it most. Wait, does all this sound familiar? Well, it should, because it mirrors the situation of another WNBA icon: DeWanna Bonner.
A vet’s struggle that didn’t end like Elizabeth Williams’
For a player of DeWanna Bonner’s stature, a 2X WNBA champion, 5X All-Star, and a future Hall of Famer, joining the Fever in 2025 was supposed to be a seamless transition. But a one-year vet deal meant to anchor a young roster led by Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston quickly unraveled into one of the season’s most jarring fallouts.
So, while Bonner entered the season with expectations to bring leadership, poise, and scoring, but she found herself averaging just 7.1 points, with 3.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game, which is by far the lowest of her 16-year career. Even her field-goal percentage dipped to a career-low 34.5%, and the usual flair and rhythm that defined her Sun days, where she averaged 15.0 PPG just last season, and what White was hopeful to see, seemed completely absent.
Despite her history with HC Stephanie White, who once lauded her “remarkable consistency,” Bonner’s place in Indiana never quite clicked. White tried to make the pairing work but ultimately admitted: “I love DB… she’s a Hall of Famer… I always want her to be happy. Things happen quickly, and being able to mesh—sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t.”
And yes, her game didn’t fit Indiana’s fast-paced, guard-heavy system. Well, there’s a reason behind it too as where Bonner thrived in half-court sets with deliberate pacing and off-ball motion in Connecticut, the Fever demanded quicker decisions, more spacing, and adaptability around CC’s dynamic playmaking. So while Bonner started the first three games but was quickly moved to the bench in favor of Lexie Hull, signaling a demotion that cut her minutes from 31.8 MPG in 2024 to just 21.3 MPG in Indiana.
Then came a five-game absence due to “personal reasons.” Soon after, fans noticed her poster had been quietly removed from Gainbridge Fieldhouse. But the final blow came with the Fever’s Instagram announcement, which shared a graphic celebrating Aari McDonald’s signing. At the bottom, in a small caption, it read: “In a corresponding move, we have waived DeWanna Bonner.”
It wasn’t just the roster move, it was the lack of fanfare for a player who had just surpassed Tina Thompson to claim third on the WNBA All-Time Scoring List with 7,489 career points. But, she wasn’t ready to stay quiet as Bonner responded 22 hours later with a cryptic Instagram carousel and a caption that read: “A QUITTER!! Nah never been that!! But when the time comes… Let’s just make sure the apologies are just as loud as the disrespect!! IN DUE TIME .. DB.”
Well, that single post captured what a thousand press statements couldn’t that Bonner was hurt, not just by the decision, but by the silence that came with it. Then, in her own words, she later clarified: “Despite our shared goals and excitement heading into the season, I felt the fit did not work out. I appreciate the organization’s willingness to grant my request to move on.” So, while the tone was professional. But the emotional disconnect? Impossible to ignore.
And that’s how the former Indiana Fever’s defensive move’s tenure ended with CC and co. And quite evidently that’s something that places, Bonner apart from Williams as while she chose to part ways, Sky’s vet Elizabeth Williams found herself in a similar position, posting career-low numbers in 2025, starting on the bench, and adjusting to a reduced role behind young stars like Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, but she chose to stay.
Well, just like Bonner, Williams averaged just 7.1 points and 4.1 rebounds this season, compared to her 10.0 PPG and 7.0 RPG in 2024. She too was dropped from the starting five early in the season. But unlike Bonner, Williams stayed hopeful. She embraced the change. And when Cardoso stepped away for international duty, Williams didn’t complain, she stepped up. It’s something Bonner could have done now that CC is out due to a left groin strain. So you know what makes the difference.
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