‘She Held Her Ground’: Li Yueru’s Interior Presence Against Kamilla Cardoso Fuels Dallas Wings’ Sweep Of Chicago Sky

DALLAS — Some matchups bring out the best in certain players, and for Dallas Wings center Li Yueru, that matchup has been the Chicago Sky.

Yueru recorded her first double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds while anchoring Dallas’ interior defense in a 96-91 comeback victory Sunday at American Airlines Center in front of 13,236 fans, finishing as a game-high plus-17. It was Yueru’s third straight strong showing against Chicago (7-16), and it completed a 3-0 season sweep of the Sky as the Wings (16-8) stretched their winning streak to 5 games, their longest since 2023.

Kamilla Cardoso Tests Dallas Wings Early

For the third time this season, Yueru played a pivotal role in slowing down Sky center Kamilla Cardoso, continuing what has become one of the defining individual matchups of Dallas’ season.

Cardoso entered the game as one of the focal points of Chicago’s offense, leading her team in scoring and rebounding at 14.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. She opened fast, scoring 6 points on 3-of-5 shooting to go with 5 rebounds in the first 5 minutes, but Yueru’s size and physicality consistently forced the third-year center away from her preferred spots around the rim the rest of the way. Cardoso finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds on 6-of-12 shooting.

“I’m lucky I have the same size with her,” Yueru said. “So I can try to push her out of the (paint) area. I try to look at her and learn from her, try to know what she wants to do and then try to limit her to help our team.”

But rather than viewing the matchup as just a defensive assignment, Yueru said Cardoso’s success has become a source of motivation.

“She’s really good and she played wonderful,” Yueru said. “I’m really glad she played really well because when she plays very well, that gives me more confidence. Sometimes I think about the big size players maybe cannot play well in (WNBA). (But Cardoso) plays really well, so I feel more confident.”

Li Yueru Answers the Call Again

Yueru’s minutes have fluctuated throughout the year, but whenever Dallas has faced Chicago, Wings coach Jose Fernandez has leaned on her ability to battle one of the league’s strongest post players.

“Li helps us a bunch when we see some of those interior players that run some isolations and some duck-ins,” Fernandez said. “She held her ground. We needed her to do that. Credit to her for staying ready and staying the course.”

That readiness has become a defining characteristic of this Dallas team. Yueru said her confidence has grown because of the environment inside the Wings’ locker room, where teammates continue to encourage her regardless of mistakes.

“I’m appreciative that I have a chance to get on the court,” Yueru said. “My teammates always tell me, even if I make mistakes, ‘You’re good. Don’t worry about that. Just focus on this moment.’ I feel really happy because we have the best locker room.”

Dallas Wings Complete Another Fourth-Quarter Comeback

That trust was evident throughout Sunday’s matchup, but especially in the fourth quarter. Chicago outscored Dallas 33-20 in the third quarter, taking a 7-point lead into the final period. But the Wings found another gear, closing the game with a 30-18 fourth-quarter advantage to complete yet another comeback. The rally marked their eighth comeback after trailing entering the fourth quarter, tying Washington for the most fourth-quarter comebacks this season.

While Paige Bueckers once again orchestrated the offense, Yueru’s presence inside stabilized the defense and gave Dallas a reliable answer against Chicago’s formidable frontcourt.

Bueckers pointed to Yueru as an example of the selflessness fueling Dallas’ string of victories.

“You see Li stepped up and played huge minutes and was a huge reason why we won,” Bueckers said. “It speaks to our depth and our sacrifice within the team. Everybody knows, it could be my night, it could be her night, and we all play to win with each other.”

Across all three meetings between the Wings and the Sky this season, one constant has emerged: whenever Dallas needed someone to battle Cardoso inside, Yueru answered. Although she filled the stat sheet on Sunday, her impact isn’t always measured by points or rebounds. It comes in forcing difficult catches, pushing Cardoso away from the basket, absorbing contact, and allowing Dallas’ defense to function the way it wants to. Those contributions rarely fill the highlight reel, but they have played a significant role in each of the Wings’ three victories over Chicago this season.

Against the Sky, few players have been more valuable than Yueru.

Up Next

Dallas returns to College Park Center in Arlington to host the New York Liberty on Thursday at 8 p.m. CT.