Photo by CSOM Sports
Tyler Marsh’s debut as head coach went nothing like he planned as the Sky got blown out by the Fever 93-58 on Saturday afternoon. It was the fifth-biggest margin of defeat in Fever franchise history. A sellout crowd of 17,274 fans were in attendance at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the first of five matchups between Chicago and Indiana.
Courtney Vandersloot officially made her return to the Sky where she played from 2011-2022. Vandersloot finished with four points, four rebounds and five assists. The Sky offense looked more organized in the first half than any game Chicago played last season. However, the offense looked more rushed and out of sync without their veteran point guard on the court.
Despite trying to control the pace, the Sky struggled on offense, shooting 29% from the field and 22% from beyond the three point line. Marsh’s plan was to slow the Fever down and limit paint touches. But the Fever outscored the Sky 48-26 in the paint and 16-11 in transition. “We take this one on the chin,” first-year Sky coach Tyler Marsh said following the game.
Angel Reese led the Sky in scoring with 12 points to go along with 17 rebounds, earning a double-double in her 2025 debut. Ariel Atkins made her Chicago Sky debut, scoring 11 points along with four rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block.
Caitlin Clark opened the regular season with a triple-double, notching 20 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and a career-high four blocks. Aliyah Boston recorded a 19-point, 13-rebound double-double, and Natasha Howard and Kelsey Mitchell added 15 points apiece.
Indiana is now 4-1 vs. Chicago since last season. The Sky have an opportunity to regroup before their next game on Thursday, when the defending champion Liberty come to town.