Sky's Vandersloot injures knee, carried off court

CHICAGO -- Sky point guard Courtney Vandersloot suffered a right knee injury in the first quarter and was ruled out for the rest of Saturday's 79-52 loss to the Indiana Fever.

Vandersloot was driving to the basket and went down with 5:29 left in the first quarter. She was quickly surrounded by her teammates and then carried off the court.

"She's our engine," Sky coach Tyler Marsh said. "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 gotta pick her up. We all gotta lift her up, we all gotta lift each other up."

Vandersloot, 36, is in her 15th season in the league. The No. 3 draft pick in 2011 by Chicago, she spent the first 12 years of her career with the Sky, winning the 2021 WNBA title. Vandersloot went to the New York Liberty in 2023 and 2024 and won another league championship last year.

She returned to Chicago this year as the veteran guard presence the team wanted along with second-year post players Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso.

Vandersloot is the WNBA's active career leader in assists with 2,886, trailing only retired former Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird (3,234). Vandersloot has led the league in assists five times.

The Sky and Fever played the first WNBA game at United Center.