Courtney Vandersloot set to return from ACL injury for Chicago Sky

Point guard Courtney Vandersloot will make her long-awaited return after a yearlong recovery from a right ACL injury.

>Unless she faces any unexpected hurdles, she’ll take the court when the Chicago Sky host the Portland Fire at Wintrust Arena in Chicago on Friday, Jun. 25. The 5-foot-8 veteran told ESPN she was “excited and thankful” to complete her comeback that she couldn’t put it into words.

>Vandersloot, 37, injured her knee in a loss to the Indiana Fever in early June 2025. She was listed as questionable on Chicago’s injury report on Thursday, June 25.

>Drafted No. 3 overall by the Sky in 2011, Vandersloot played her first 12 seasons with the team and won her first WNBA championship in 2021. She signed with the Liberty as a free agent in 2023 and won her second league title in 2024.

>A free agent this offseason, Vandersloot returned to Chicago as part of a flurry of moves that saw the Sky trade star forward Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream before acquiring Skylar Diggins, Azurá Stevens, Rickea Jackson and Natasha Cloud.

>Jackson is out for the season with a torn ACL she sustained on May 17 against the Minnesota Lynx. She underwent reconstructive surgery earlier this month.

>Vandersloot’s return comes at an opportune time for Chicago, which beat the Portland Fire on Wednesday night. It was their second win in the 13 games since Jackson’s injury.

>Chicago is currently near the bottom of the league standings at No. 13. The team sits above the Seattle Storm and Connecticut Sun, both have three wins each.

>Vandersloot made her return to 5-on-5 action in practice three weeks ago. At the time, she told reporters she felt like a return was near and that she was “recovering fast.”

>To make room for Vandersloot’s addition to the active roster, the Sky waived hardship contract signee Saylor Poffenbarger.

>This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Courtney Vandersloot set to return for Chicago Sky vs Portland Fire