The PHX Arena witnessed a highly physical matchup yesterday that went right down to the wire. But as Phoenix looks to sip their energy drinks, there’s no time for rest, as the Chicago Sky will be in town tomorrow looking for their first W of the season.
For Tyler Marsh’s Sky, the start couldn’t have been worse. All of their losses have come at a double-digit deficit, including the opening night 35-point beatdown at the hands of the Fever. Although their early-season opponents have presented formidable challenges in the form of the NY Liberty, Fever, and the LA Sparks, the Sky need to bounce back before their season is toppled.
Chicago’s last game was away to the Sparks, where they were handed another harsh lesson, particularly by Kelsey Plum. Plum had 28 points and appeared to score at will, exposing Tyler Marsh’s defense yet again. And the latest injury report is not providing them with any relief either.
Injury Report: Who’s in, who’s out
Chicago is missing two of their guards, putting added pressure on starter Courtney Vandersloot and Ariel Atkins. While Atkins is still finding her feet in this squad, the team’s piling losses have the fans’ patience growing thin. And as Sonia Citron, the pick they traded for Atkins, bolsters her case for a Rookie of the Year campaign, she must get going in the game against the Mercury. For Vandersloot, the role is of a veteran who leads the team and dictates the offense. While she is undoubtedly a capable defender, Vandersloot is entering her 14th year in the league and cannot be expected to lock down stars like Kelsey Plum for 40 minutes. Hailey Van Lith was someone who was supposed to provide that support to Vandersloot, however, she is questionable for the upcoming game.
Headlining the injury report is rookie guard Hailey Van Lith. HVL dealt with an ankle injury during the preseason, which seems to have lingered on. While she did compete in their first two games of the season against the Fever and Liberty, Van Lith was ruled out for their game against the Sparks. This sure is a disappointment for the fans who thought the rookie was recovering well after she saw a minutes upgrade against the Liberty. But on the bright side, her status is day-to-day. So, there is reason enough to still cling to hope.
Chicago Sky Status Report for their game vs Phoenix
Moriah Jefferson (leg) is QUESTIONABLE
Hailey Van Lith (ankle) is QUESTIONABLE
— Karli Bell (@KarliBell33) May 26, 2025
The other guard on the list is Moriah Jefferson, who is yet to participate in a game this season. Jefferson has had multiple bouts with injuries in her decade-long career in the WNBA, often limiting her availability. This time around, the 31-year-old has been dealing with a leg injury and has been upgraded to questionable for the game on Tuesday. While she is expected to be cleared for the game, her playing time won’t be significant in her season debut. She had also missed three weeks of action last season after she underwent arthroscopic surgery on her right ankle. So Tyler Marsh and the Sky will likely tread carefully with this one.
Meanwhile, the Mercury are having troubles of their own in the injury department as Kahleah Copper will not be available till the latter weeks of June, making for a tough stretch of games for Phoenix. Natasha Mack also stays out with Murjanatu Musa ruled out due to illness.
Why the Sky needs HVL back as soon as possible
Coming into this season, the Chicago Sky wanted to build a “Big 3” with Hailey Van Lith, Angel Reese, and Kamilla Cardoso. Remember the Houston Comets’ trifecta of Sheryl Swoopes, Cynthia Cooper, and Tina Thompson that won them four consecutive titles? Yes, something very similar to that.
Hence, they drafted HVL, who was known for her playmaking and scoring in college. “Hailey Van Lith made an impact on multiple contending teams across her collegiate and international career, and we expect her winning ability to translate,” Sky General Manager Jeff Pagliocca said. “We’re excited to add her talent and versatility to the Sky.”
Yet, so far she hasn’t been able to make her mark. She played sparingly in the matchup against the Fever and then again against the Liberty. While this was mainly because of her injury concern, the coach’s decision also played a major role, which naturally didn’t well with fans. Because this is something the Sky cannot afford, having already lost their 2024 season to the same woes.
Notably, even in those limited four and fifteen minutes, HVL showed flashes of brilliance as she converted both of her field goal attempts against the Fever. While she did go 0-for-4 against Liberty, she did lead the team in assists, a nod to her playmaking. Yet, they also need to gauge her limitations as soon as possible, because no one player is ever the answer for a 44 games season and they won’t if she doesn’t get to play the minutes she is supposed to.
Let’s see how the Sky will weather this going forward.
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