The Chicago Sky needed a big win. Even with Sydney Taylor’s breakout and a 101-78 victory over the Portland Fire, things looked pretty bleak. After all, it had been just the fifth win of the season for Chicago, and it brought them no closer to a playoff spot.
Courtney Vandersloot’s promised return from the ACL tear she had suffered last year was a bright spot the Sky desperately needed. But how much could they really expect from a 37-year-old in her first game back after a devastating injury? A lot, it turns out.
Vandersloot gave them everything they could have hoped for. She recorded 10 points on 4-4 shooting from the field and 1-1 from deep, 3 rebounds, and 7 assists in 14 minutes on the court, helping the Sky to a massive 124-94 win against the Fire. She provided a scoring boost and a steadying offensive presence and set up Kamilla Cardoso, who shot a historic 13-13 from the field on her way to 30 points.
The Sky could not have asked for more from the veteran. Now, the only question is how sustainable that kind of production is.
Could this be a turning point for the Sky?
The Sky gave up a lot to build this current roster, including Angel Reese, the lottery picks that turned into Sonia Citron and Olivia Miles, and a 2027 first-round pick swap. Missing the playoffs would not be great, but climbing into the top eight will be an uphill battle.
Chicago is three games behind the eighth-seeded Toronto Tempo for the final playoff spot, and they’re not the only team eying that position. The Los Angeles Sparks, even without Kelsey Plum, and the Phoenix Mercury have just as much incentive to make the postseason as the Sky. Portland isn’t under nearly as much pressure, but has made it clear that a playoff appearance is on the team’s bucket list for the season.
Maybe Courtney Vandersloot can be the boost Chicago needs to turn things around and finish the season strong. Vandersloot and Azura Stevens were part of the 2021 Sky squad that got off to a 3-7 start and then still went on to win the championship. This is not to say that the Sky will win the title this season—that would require an outright miracle—but they have veteran players who know what it takes to battle through adversity and come out on the other side successfully.
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