Sky's Courtney Vandersloot Out for WNBA Season With Knee Injury Diagnosed as Torn ACL

Chicago Sky's Courtney Vandersloot is out for the season after suffering a torn ACL during Saturday’s game against the Indiana Fever, the team announced Sunday.

The 36-year-old went down while driving to the basket with 5:29 left in the first quarter. An MRI later revealed a torn ACL in her right knee. She will miss the remainder of the 2025 WNBA season and is expected to undergo surgery for repair.

The Sky went on to lose 79-52 to the Fever at home. Vandersloot logged two points before exiting the game.

Following the injury, Sky head coach Tyler Marsh praised the veteran captain, emphasizing her leadership and impact on the team before the severity of the injury was fully known.

"She's our engine," Marsh told reporters after the game. "She's our captain and our leader out there, so obviously, it's a huge blow. But hopefully, it's not as serious as we may think. We're hoping she is able to bounce back, but for the time being, we all got to pick her up. We all got to lift her up; we all got to lift each other up."

Along with Marsh, rookie Hailey Van Lith—who played a season-high 26 minutes and recorded eight points, two rebounds and one steal—also spoke on Vandersloot’s impact and the heartbreak felt in the locker room after the game.

"It's heartbreaking to watch anybody [get hurt], but especially one of your teammates and someone that means as much as Sloot does to our team and this organization," Van Lith told reporters. "Right now, we're giving her a lot of energy, praying for her. Whatever is in store in the future for this team, I trust that we will find a way to make this moment mean something in the end. We're very concerned, and our hearts go out to Sloot."

Over 15 WNBA seasons, Vandersloot has spent 13 years with the Sky, taking a two-year stint with the New York Liberty in 2023 and 2024 before returning to Chicago.

Through seven games this season, she averaged 10.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.6 steals.