Quick Three: Fever 79 Sky 52
Sky lose again to Fever, anxiously await update on potentially serious Vandersloot injury
After back-to-back wins over Dallas last week, the Sky hoped to return from a rare week off with a strong performance—especially at the United Center—to open their Commissioner’s Cup campaign against an Indiana team that had handed them a heavy defeat on opening day. Instead, Chicago hit an early speed bump, and things quickly went off the rails in another blowout loss.
1. Vandersloot’s Exit Leaves Sky Offense in Disarray
When Courtney Vandersloot went down with an injury, it was always going to be a shock to the system for this Sky team. As both a veteran leader and the team’s floor general, so many threads—especially on offense—run through her. Hailey Van Lith, having logged just 37 minutes across the Sky’s first six games (mostly in garbage time), was understandably unprepared to take on such a major role so early in the game. The offense immediately lost its rhythm when she checked in. Still, the hope would’ve been that—after a few possessions—things might begin to settle. No one expected elite offensive execution without Vandersloot, but the team likely anticipated they could still get into their sets and give the other four players—unchanged from last week’s wins over Dallas—a chance to find some offensive flow.
Instead, it never came together for Chicago. The Sky failed to score more than 15 points in any quarter, and no player finished in double figures. Turnovers, stagnant possessions, and sloppy mistakes were part of the problem—but more concerning were the uncomfortable spots Van Lith’s own teammates put her in. From quick-fire inbound passes while she was trapped on the baseline to moving screens that stalled possessions before they began, the Sky compounded an already difficult task. Add in turnovers stemming from mistimed reads—like a pass thrown to the perimeter as Van Lith cut to the basket—and the growing pains of a rookie still adjusting to the pro game, and there was little to no recipe for functional offense tonight.
In many respects, that kind of disarray is understandable given the sudden nature of the injury. Still, Tyler Marsh likely hoped to see his team inch toward stability as the game wore on—but there was little sign of meaningful progress. While timing issues can’t be ironed out in a single 30-minute stretch, the Sky’s inability to find rhythm in even their more basic sets—those not heavily dependent on Vandersloot, like pick-and-roll actions—is far more concerning.
2. Atkins Out of Luck When Needed Most
After a slow start to the season, Atkins had been very impressive over the Sky’s last three games—averaging 21.3 points on 51/40/75 shooting splits. But tonight, when she was arguably the one player who could’ve kept the Sky within striking distance of the Fever, she struggled mightily (2-for-11). A few early attempts rattled in and out—so the game might’ve unfolded differently—but as the first half wore on and the Van Lith-led offense continued to sputter, it became clear that Atkins began pressing, perhaps a bit too much.
Then again, what more could you really ask for? In a game turned upside down, you want the player you’ve entrusted with so much—the one with championships and Olympic gold on her résumé—to take control. Tonight, the shots just didn’t fall, and that made it tough for Atkins to be the difference-maker she had been over the past three games. With or without Vandersloot, the Sky are relying on her to be their most influential and important offensive player—and that responsibility will only grow for as long as Vandersloot remains sidelined.
Atkins’ luck will likely improve on future nights, but the Sky also need to find ways to generate cleaner looks for her amid the added defensive pressure that comes without Vandersloot—or the actions she usually initiates. Getting Kamilla Cardoso more involved (just 5 FGA tonight) is also critical, as the lack of an established paint presence immediately undermines Atkins’ ability to operate with any space on the perimeter. Without more space, she’ll be forced to press, as she did at times in the first half, and even elite offensive players struggle when thrown out of rhythm by the burden of carrying an offense on their own.
3. What Now?
Tonight’s loss was disheartening on multiple levels, but with the Sky’s next game less than 72 hours away, they need to regroup quickly and chart a clear path forward. This is where the veterans acquired in the offseason—Atkins, Kia Nurse, Rebecca Allen, and even injury returnee Elizabeth Williams—must step up and provide much-needed stability. Even with Vandersloot available, early questions lingered about the Sky’s playoff chances, and if performances remain anywhere near tonight’s level, this season could quickly spiral out of control.
If we’re being pragmatic, Vandersloot won’t be back anytime soon—perhaps not even this season, given her reaction to the injury—and there’s still uncertainty around Moriah Jefferson’s health, with her status fluctuating throughout the early season. That means Van Lith, for better or worse, has become the Sky’s primary ball handler. Atkins, Rachel Banham, and even Kia Nurse will play complementary roles, but the rookie will likely shoulder the bulk of the responsibility—especially if the Sky scale back their playoff ambitions depending on Vandersloot’s availability. If tonight was any indication, Van Lith will need time to grow into that role, and her teammates will need time to adjust to her playing it. That’s a natural process, but it was still surprising how unprepared the Sky appeared to be running the offense without Vandersloot at the helm.
Jefferson, meanwhile, has been in and out, and although Vandersloot has had an impressive start, she’s still 36 and was always going to need bench support. Assuming Van Lith is the solution going forward, a lot of evolution will be required. It’s also worth noting that Jefferson’s protected contract—acquired last year in the Marina Mabrey trade—will limit the Sky’s roster flexibility unless her injury is severe enough that, combined with Vandersloot’s absence, the team qualifies for a hardship exception. Ultimately, it’s too soon to draw conclusions until we know more about Vandersloot’s status, but tonight’s loss marks a significant downturn in an already shaky season regardless of how that status develops.