In a moment that shocked everyone watching, veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot suffered a frightening injury during the Chicago Sky’s much-anticipated return to the United Center. What was supposed to be a celebratory night for the Sky and their fans quickly turned into a nightmare. Although the Sky eventually fell to their longtime rivals, the Indiana Fever, the loss wasn’t the most painful part of the evening. Losses in sports are expected. What’s far more devastating is when a star player goes down in such a troubling way.
Vandersloot, a seasoned and respected player, went down just five minutes into the game after a poor landing led to a serious injury to her right knee. The sight of her being helped off the court was unsettling not only for fans in the arena but for basketball supporters across the world. Injuries like this, especially to such a key figure in the league, cast a long shadow over the game.
With Vandersloot gone, Chicago’s game plan crumbled. Hailey Van Lith was thrust into a bigger role and tried to step up in her absence, but the Sky’s offense lost its rhythm entirely. No player managed to score in double digits, and the team’s playmaking looked disjointed and uncertain. The energy was gone. Chicago’s offensive engine had broken down, and there was no replacement ready to keep things moving. The mood in the building shifted, and the performance on the court never recovered.
While the Sky were left scrambling, the Indiana Fever stayed focused, though their concern for Vandersloot was evident. Acting head coach Austin Kelly addressed the injury postgame, expressing his team’s empathy. “I don’t know the extent of it, but we’re definitely thinking about her,” Kelly said. He acknowledged the long-standing respect between players across the WNBA, referencing past competitive matchups between Vandersloot and his teams when he coached in Connecticut and New York. It was clear from his remarks that Vandersloot’s impact on the game is deeply respected, even by her opponents.
Still, the Fever had to carry on with the match. Kelly reminded his players to maintain their momentum and focus despite the emotional moment. “We never see that, but you gotta kind of shift your focus,” he said, recounting his huddle message to the team: keep building. And that’s exactly what Indiana did.
With the Sky’s primary playmaker gone, the Fever took advantage of the disruption. Their transition game was relentless, with Kelsey Mitchell spearheading the attack. Mitchell’s quickness proved too much for Chicago’s defense, and her presence set the tone for the rest of the game. She posted a game-high 17 points, capitalizing on the absence of her main defensive counterpart.
Chicago, meanwhile, appeared overwhelmed. The defensive intensity dipped, and their offensive flow was nowhere to be found. Even when Indiana tested their bench depth in the fourth quarter, they still managed to shoot efficiently, hitting more than 45% of their shots from the field. The Sky simply couldn’t regroup without their floor general.
Vandersloot’s early departure left a leadership void that proved impossible to fill. Her value extends far beyond her statistics — she’s the brain of the Sky’s offense, their veteran voice, and the glue holding their system together. Without her on the court, the team looked lost.
What’s most concerning now is the nature of her injury. There’s widespread speculation that it could be an ACL tear, a diagnosis that would almost certainly sideline her for the rest of the season — or longer. If true, the ramifications for Chicago are huge. Vandersloot isn’t just a top-tier player — she’s a foundational piece. Her absence would force the Sky to rethink their entire approach moving forward.
For now, the entire WNBA community seems to be holding its breath, waiting for updates on her condition. There’s a shared understanding among players and coaches — a respect that transcends competition. Injuries like these are the one thing everyone dreads.
Though the Fever ultimately emerged with the win, and showed grit by staying locked in during an emotionally charged night, the story of the game was unfortunately the injury that changed everything. For the Sky, this was more than just a homecoming gone wrong — it may have been the beginning of a very challenging chapter.
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