Vandersloot Injury Return Fuels Chicago Sky Victory Over Portland Fire 124-94

Chicago Sky produced a dominant 124-94 win over Portland Fire, highlighted by Courtney Vandersloot’s return from a serious knee injury and Kamilla Cardoso’s perfect shooting night. Vandersloot added 10 points, while Cardoso finished with 30 points on 13-for-13 from the field.

The victory came in Vandersloot’s first game since tearing the ACL in the right knee early last season. Chicago Sky also came close to the WNBA record for most points in regulation, finishing one short of the 125-point mark for a single game.

Head coach Tyler Marsh praised how smoothly Vandersloot slotted back into the Chicago Sky system after the long lay-off. Marsh felt the guard’s leadership and control of tempo returned immediately, lifting team confidence and helping

the offence reach a level not seen this season.

Marsh described Vandersloot’s influence on the court and on team-mates in pointed terms after the win. "She was back tonight like she never left," he said. "You could tell she was back in her happy place. It took all of about 15 seconds for her to yell at one of her team-mates to get where they were supposed to be. "

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The Chicago Sky attack moved the ball quickly, pushed pace, and kept pressure on Portland Fire throughout. That approach left the team just short of tying the WNBA record for points in regulation, yet still underlined how dangerous the group can be when executing.

Marsh reflected on the wider context of the performance for Chicago Sky, noting recent struggles during the schedule. "It’s obviously been a rough part of the season, so to have nights like tonight, I think that it’s something that [our team] deserves for the work that they put in. "

Courtney Vandersloot outlines Chicago Sky offensive identity

Vandersloot discussed how Chicago Sky want to play, stressing unselfish decisions and quick ball movement. "I want to play fast, selfless," Vandersloot added. "The open player gets the ball. We have a lot of threats. But we all need to do our job for it to look right. "

Vandersloot expanded on that identity, speaking about the discipline needed to maintain their style. "[Were at our best when we’re] focused on details and playing with pace, good to great, all of those things. It sounds like a bunch of cliches, which it is, but thats what a good offense looks like. We have a lot of good weapons, and when we play to their strengths, then these kinds of nights can happen. "

Chicago Sky now see this performance as a possible turning point after a difficult stretch. Vandersloot called the win "a really goodmomentum-shifter" and felt the team have a clear direction. "This was a really good one for us, a really goodmomentum-shifter. I think we know our identity and can build off this. "