When new head coach Tyler Marsh took up the responsibility, he immediately knew the pieces he wanted to put together. With a young roster led by Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese, he made some key offseason moves, including signing veteran Courtney Vandersloot to bring leadership and experience. But so far, none of his plans seem to be working. Just eight games into the season, and the roster is already overwhelmed, sitting third from the bottom among the WNBA’s 13 teams with a 2-6 record. Their only wins so far have come against the Dallas Wings.

The struggles run deeper, as five of their six losses have come by double digits. Their recent games have been particularly rough, including a 27-point blowout at the hands of the Indiana Fever (79-52) and a 19-point loss to the New York Liberty (85-66). Still, there’s hope for a turnaround as they’re set to face the Atlanta Dream at Gateway Center on Friday. But making that happen won’t be easy, especially with an injury-depleted roster.

Sky suffers major blow as Atlanta gears up with full-powered roster

While the Atlanta Dream comes in with a fully loaded roster, the Chicago Sky is missing a crucial piece. That all stems from the devastating injury to veteran point guard and Sky’s floor general, Courtney Vandersloot. During the first quarter of the Sky’s June 7th game against the Indiana Fever at the United Center, she collapsed while driving to the basket and had to be carried off the court. Later, MRI scans confirmed the worst: she would need surgery and miss the remainder of the 2025 season. Just like that, the Sky lost a key contributor.

Well, Sky head coach Tyler Marsh put it best: “She’s our engine, our captain, and our leader out there.” So, no doubt, her absence is a blow to the Sky, both on and off the court. A five-time All-Star and two-time WNBA champion who ranks second in league history in assists, Sloot is the kind of player you simply can’t replace.

And unfortunately, that’s showing up in the team’s recent performances. When Vandersloot could not return to the matchup against Indiana, the Sky were completely dismantled, scoring just 52 points, their lowest output since 2011. They struggled heavily with 21 turnovers and shot only 32% from the field. But it wasn’t just a one-off. It’s a pattern they haven’t been able to break. New York, too, did not show mercy, forcing the Sky into 15 first-half turnovers.

The Sky currently ranks second-worst in the power rankings and is also the second-worst team in both offensive and defensive ratings, offering little hope for a turnaround. So it’s no surprise that facing a well-rounded Dream squad without their leader makes this an uphill battle for Chicago.

Starting five for the Chicago Sky vs the Atlanta Dream!

Chicago Sky

• Ariel Atkins
• Rachel Banham
• Rebecca Allen
• Angel Reese
• Kamila Cardoso

Atlanta Dream

• Jordin Canada
• Allisha Gray
• Rhyne Howard
• Britney Griner
• Brionna Jones

So, who will win?

Here’s our prediction for the winning team!

Having won five of their last six games, the Atlanta Dream enters this matchup with a clear edge. Their recent 19-point win over the Indiana Fever says a lot, not because of their shooting (they went just 5-of-22 from beyond the arc), but because of how they dominated the paint and the glass.

It was Brionna Jones who powered the team with a strong 21-point, 10-rebound performance, while Brittney Griner held things down beside her. With that kind of frontcourt, it’s no surprise the Dream lead the league in rebounding and also rank first in three-point defense, holding opponents to just 5.9 makes per game. Meanwhile, the Chicago Sky are in a tough spot.

Losing veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot to a season-ending ACL tear has completely shaken their offense. Without her playmaking, the team looked lost in their 19-point loss to the Liberty, racking up 22 turnovers. While Reese continues to fight hard as her 17 points and 11 boards were impressive, but with no consistent support and shooting under 33% for the season, she’s been carrying more than her share of the load.

So, it’s not surprising that ESPN gives the Dream a 67% chance of winning this one.