CHICAGO, IL – In a matchup charged with historic energy and devastating outcomes, the Indiana Fever overwhelmed the Chicago Sky 79–52 in front of a record 19,496 fans at the United Center—the largest home crowd in Sky franchise history.
Indiana set the tone early, jumping to a 10-point lead and never looking back. Their smothering defense and quick transition play kept Chicago on its heels. Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 17 points, while Natasha Howard contributed 13, and Aari McDonald came off the bench with a spark—adding 12 points and three steals.
The Fever’s performance was balanced and unrelenting. Star forward Aliyah Boston chipped in 11 points, five rebounds, and five assists, helping Indiana secure their second Commissioner’s Cup win over the Sky and lock in bonus cash for their community partner.
Chicago, by contrast, struggled in nearly every aspect of the game. Shooting just 32.1% from the field and committing 21 turnovers, the Sky never found rhythm offensively. Angel Reese recorded 12 rebounds but managed only four points on 2-of-7 shooting. The team’s 52 points marked their lowest single-game output since 2011.
The game’s emotional low point came midway through when veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot exited with what was later confirmed to be a torn ACL. The injury ends her season and leaves the Sky scrambling to rebuild their offensive leadership. Rookie Hailey Van Lith is expected to step into the role moving forward.
The game was supposed to be a celebration—a sign of growth for women’s basketball. And in many ways, it was. But for Chicago, the night turned dark quickly, and the challenges ahead now loom larger than the record-setting crowd behind them.
The Fever (4–4) next travel to Atlanta to face the Dream, while the Sky (2–5) will attempt to regroup against the defending champion New York Liberty.
