The whole audience, the whole world, let out a gasp of horror when Courtney Vandersloot fell last night. After all, the Chicago Sky’s homecoming to the United Center was supposed to be a movie, but it turned into a horror show really quickly. Sure, they ended up losing to their rivals, the Indiana Fever, but winning and losing is a welcome part of sports. Injury? Not so welcomed. The five-foot-eight point guard only managed to play five minutes before suffering a major injury to her right knee due to a faulty landing.
It’s always a horrible sight to see someone being carried off the court, especially when it’s such a decorated vet like Vandersloot. And for the Chicago Sky, it all went downhill from there. In terms of the game: Hailey Van Lith had to step up and give her team some substantial minutes, Chicago’s playmaking stalled almost entirely, and no one managed to score in the double digits. But the major impact was off the court. After all, if the injury turns out to be something very serious, like the ACL tear that everyone is suspecting, then it could mean bad things for the organization’s prospects.
But how did the Indiana Fever side react? Well, they were quite empathetic. Acting head coach Austin Kelly talked about his reaction, and the team’s response to such a major injury. “I don’t know the extent of it, but we’re definitely thinking about her.” He said. “Over the last couple of years, we’ve had some battles, when we were in Connecticut with her and in New York. I have such a huge amount of respect, and I’m sure the players in our locker room do as well.” Without a doubt, there is a lot of mutual admiration amongst WNBA players, and everyone hates to see injuries happening.
However, they did have a game to finish. “We never see that, but you gotta kinda shift your focus,” Kelly added on. “And that was kind of the message in the huddle, ‘let’s continue to build’. I thought we got off to a good start, and we didn’t really want that to derail us as we were going forward there.” And the momentum did not stop at all!
Vandersloot’s early exit forced the Sky to recalibrate on the fly, leaving inexperienced players to fill the playmaking void. The Fever seized the opportunity, especially in transition, where Kelsey Mitchell’s speed became a weapon. Acting coach Austin Kelly emphasized sustaining momentum, and Indiana’s aggressive defensive pressure disrupted Chicago’s rhythm, allowing the Fever to dictate the game’s tempo.
The Sky had basically lost their engine on both sides of the court, and there was hell to pay.
Kelsey Mitchell, her would-be matchup, ended up dominating against HVL and put up a game-high 17 points. It wasn’t just the rookie’s fault, however, as the team’s defense was definitely lacking. Even though the Fever ended up testing their rotational depth in the fourth quarter, they still ended up shooting over 45% from the field.
Without Courtney Vandersloot, the Chicago Sky system collapsed quite miserably.
But what was all of this like for Chicago? We’ve talked about the Indiana Fever’s reaction to this situation, but what about the nightmarish loss’ impact on the Sky? How did the head coach Tyler Marsh react? Well, let’s find out!
What’s the word from HC Tyler Marsh after Chicago Sky and Courtney Vandersloot’s horrid night out?
Chicago’s nightmare against Indiana was a terrible gift that kept on giving. They lost their captain in the heat of play, and they lost miserably to their rivals–could it get any worse? The answer is yes, depending on whether Courtney Vandersloot will be able to return soon. Without a doubt, the five-foot-eight point guard is the backbone behind the Chicago Sky’s current success. While we’re all looking at sophomore star Angel Reese, Sloot is making sure that her teammates get open looks and that the offense is thriving.
So what will the Sky do without her? Well, that’s a question that they might not have an answer to right now. Hailey Van Lith, a rookie straight out of TCU, was put to the test after Sloot’s injury, and sadly, she came up short. However, this game was the first time she got major minutes in a game that mattered, so we can’t put the blame on her. But head coach Tyler Marsh will definitely have to prepare his back-up plans in case Vandersloot won’t be coming back anytime soon.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 11: Courtney Vandersloot #22 of the New York Liberty dribbles the ball against Veronica Burton #12 of the Dallas Wings at the Barclays Center on June 11, 2023 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
But what did the Chicago Sky HC have to say about this unfortunate incident? “[Courtney Vandersloot] is our engine, she’s our captain, she’s our leader out there.” He said, stressing the importance that Sloot has on the team. “Obviously, it’s a huge blow. Hopefully, it’s not as serious as we may think.”
And to be fair, all he can do is hope. The best case scenario for the team is that Vandersloot ends up bouncing back in a matter of weeks, but that doesn’t seem likely considering she had to be carried off the court. It will be a trial-by-fire for the rookie coach, and there’s no doubt that his actions now will set the tone that can make or break his career moving forward. Stay tuned for all the action!
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