After a lopsided 35-point defeat to the Indiana Fever in their 2025 WNBA opener, Chicago Sky head coach Tyler Marsh assured fans that the loss to Caitlin Clark’s squad wouldn’t set the tone for the season.
But three weeks later, the Sky sit at 2-5, following another blowout loss to the Fever a 79-52 defeat at home on Saturday. Notably, Indiana was missing Clark this time.
Adding to the Sky’s woes, veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot exited in the first quarter with what appeared to be a lower-body injury. The visibly rattled team managed only 11 assists on 18 made field goals and shot a meager 32.1 percent from the floor.
After the game, it was Hailey Van Lith who stepped up to address the media, offering reassurance to Sky fans. “It’s heartbreaking to see anyone go down, but especially someone like ‘Sloot, who means so much to us and this franchise,” she said.
Van Lith, a rookie first-round pick from TCU, is now expected to take on a larger role if Vandersloot is sidelined for an extended stretch. She played a personal-best 26 minutes in Saturday’s game, recording seven points, two rebounds, and three turnovers. Though the game was disappointing, Van Lith expressed her determination to rise to the occasion.
Coach Marsh had referred to Vandersloot as the team’s “engine,” noting her averages of 10.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game.
“Whatever the future holds, we’ll turn this moment into something meaningful,” Van Lith said. She added that she hopes this painful setback both the loss and Vandersloot’s injury can be the turning point for the team. With increased playing time on the horizon, Van Lith will have her chance to back up those words when the Sky face the undefeated 8-0 New York Liberty at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday on ESPN.
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