Hamlin won the first of three key summer races with his victory in Michigan. It precedes a monumental milestone this weekend for NASCAR: the first international points-paying race since 1958. The Cup Series grid travels to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez road course in Mexico City for the Viva Mexico 250 on June 15.

The Cup races in Michigan, Mexico City and Pocono Raceway are crucial to NASCAR’s inaugural in-season challenge.

There haven’t been many significant changes to the structure of the Cup Series calendar since the implementation of the playoffs starting in 2004. While NASCAR first introducted a postseason in 2004 with playoffs that have undergone a few changes over the past two decades, this marks the first in-season competition with a tournament held over five races culminating in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 27.

It’s rare to have a new in-season event in the Cup Series. There’s a lot to know about it and we’ve got you covered:

What is the NASCAR in-season challenge?

It is a single-elimination tournament across five races, beginning with the June 28 race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, that includes the top 32 drivers in the Cup Series championship standings following the June 1 race at Nashville Superspeedway.

Those 32 drivers will be up in a bracket and seeded by their best results from the Cup races at Michigan, Mexico City and Pocono. Tiebreakers are the next-best finish from those three seeding races. Drivers advance by finishing higher than their opponent in the bracket.

Each of the five races will cut the field in half, similar to March Madness in college basketball. There will be 32 drivers in contention in the first race, then 16 for the second, eight for the third, four for the fourth and two drivers facing off for the win in the fifth and final race.

NASCAR in-season challenge contestants

The 32-driver field is set. Here’s who will be contending in NASCAR’s first in-season challenge (car number in parentheses):

• (24) William Byron, Chevrolet
• (5) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet
• (20) Christopher Bell, Toyota
• (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota
• (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet
• (45) Tyler Reddick, Toyota
• (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford
• (22) Joey Logano, Ford
• (1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet
• (23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota
• (19) Chase Briscoe, Toyota
• (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet
• (2) Austin Cindric, Ford
• (17) Chris Buescher, Ford
• (8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet
• (60) Ryan Preece, Ford
• (77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet
• (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet
• (16) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet
• (21) Josh Berry, Ford
• (71) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet
• (42) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota
• (34) Todd Gilliland, Ford
• (43) Erik Jones, Toyota
• (38) Zane Smith, Ford
• (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet
• (54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota
• (99) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet
• (7) Justin Haley, Chevrolet
• (10) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet
• (4) Noah Gragson, Ford
• (6) Brad Keselowski, Ford

NASCAR in-season challenge prize

The winner of the inaugural in-season challenge will take home $1 million.

NASCAR in-season challenge races, schedule

The five races of NASCAR in-season challenge are:

• June 28: Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway
• July 6: Grant Park 165 at the Chicago Street Course
• July 13: Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway
• July 20: Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Dover Motor Speedway
• July 27: Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

How to watch the NASCAR in-season challenge

TNT will be broadcasting all five of the in-season challenge races with a secondary broadcast on truTV focused on the specific bracket matchups. Here’s how to watch all of them:

Stream NASCAR in-season challenge races on Sling

Quaker State 400

• Date: June 28, 2025
• Time: 7 p.m. ET
• Location: Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia
• TV: TNT, truTV
• Stream:Sling TV, WatchTNT

Grant Park 165

• Date: July 6, 2025
• Time: 2 p.m. ET
• Location: Chicago Street Course in Chicago
• TV: TNT, truTV
• Stream:Sling TV, WatchTNT

Toyota/Save Mart 350

• Date: July 13, 2025
• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California
• TV: TNT, truTV
• Stream:Sling TV, WatchTNT

Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400

• Date: July 20, 2025
• Time: 2 p.m. ET
• Location: Dover Motor Speedway in Dover, Delaware
• TV: TNT, truTV
• Stream:Sling TV, WatchTNT

Brickyard 400

• Date: July 27, 2025
• Time: 2 p.m. ET
• Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana
• TV: TNT, truTV
• Stream:Sling TV, WatchTNT

It’s only June and we might have the catch of the year already after Athletics outfielder Denzel Clarke pulled off an incredible home run robbery.

The Athletics are in Anaheim playing the Los Angeles Angels, and in the bottom of the first inning of Monday’s contest, Nolan Schanuel took Grant Holman’s splitter deep to center field. It looked like it was going to go over the wall to give the Angels an early 1-0 lead.

Instead, Clarke scaled the wall, reached over and caught the ball in one of the best catches one could make. Clarke got so high he almost went over the wall, but he was hyped as he landed back in the field of play. Mostly everyone, especially Holman, in the stadium couldn’t believe what they saw.

It was an impressive catch for a ball that went 398 feet to center field.

Monday was just Clarke’s 16th game in the big leagues after he was called up in May. Taken in the fourth round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Cal State Northridge, Clarke entered the night with a .224 batting average with one home run and three RBI, but he already has an all-time highlight play in his career.

It may just be something Clarke does as this isn’t the first time he’s robbed a homer. On May 30 against the Toronto Blue Jays, Clarke robbed Alejandro Kirk from a home run as he scaled the wall to catch the ball back in his home country.

The catch against the Angels come three days after he had another incredible snag against the Baltimore Orioles, as he turned on the jets and hauled in the ball before hitting the wall to steal a hit away from Jorge Mateo.

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The RBC Canadian Open, featuring many of the world’s top golfers, kicked off at the TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ontario, on Thursday and culminated with a playoff for the title on Sunday.

After both Sam Burns and Ryan Fox shot 5’s on the first three holes, it was Fox who would finally birdie the fourth go-round at the 18th, giving him the title.

Fox was awarded a $1.764 million from a total prize purse of $9.8 million. Burns was not far behind, earning a little over $1 million.

Here is a breakdown of the prize money earning for the 2025 RBC Canadian Open.

What is the total purse for the 2025 RBC Canadian Open?

The total purse for the 2025 RBC Canadian Open is $9.8 million. The first place winner will take home $1.764 million of the prize purse.

RBC Canadian Open: Prize money breakdown

• First place: Ryan Fox – $1,764,000
• Second place: Sam Burns – $1,068,200
• Third place: Kevin Yu – $676,200
• T-Fourth place: Cameron Young – $441,000
• T-Fourth place: Matt McCarthy – $441,000
• T-Sixth place: Byeong Hun An – $330,750
• T-Sixth place: Andrew Putnam – $330,750
• T-Sixth place: Matteo Manassero – $330,750
• T-Ninth place: Cameron Champ – $257,250
• T-Ninth place: Victor Perez – $257,250
• T-Ninth place: David Skinns – $257,250
• T-Ninth place: Lee Hodges – $257,250
• T-13th place: Ludvig Aberg – $180,810
• T-13th place: Shane Lowry – $180,810
• T-13th place: Nick Taylor – $180,810
• T-13th place: Danny Willett – $180,810
• T-13th place: Alex Smalley – $180,810
• T-18th place: Jackson Suber – $130,176.67
• T-18th place: Noah Goodwin – $130,176.67
• T-18th place: Jesper Svensson – $130,176.67
• T-18th place: Thomas Detry – $130,176.67
• T-18th place: Jeremy Paul – $130,176.67
• T-18th place: Kevin Roy – $130,176.67
• T-24th place: Emiliano Grillo – $86,730
• T-24th place: Harry Hall – $86,730
• T-24th place: Antoine Rozner – $86,730
• T-27th place: Lanto Griffin – $75,950
• T-27th place: Max McGreevy – $73,010
• T-27th place: Corey Conners – $70,070
• T-27th place: Keith Mitchell – $67,130

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Now that was a lead that was safe.

After dropping the first game of the NBA Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder thoroughly controlled the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, June 8, in Game 2, 123-107.

Indiana, which has posted five comebacks this postseason of at least 15 points, could never seriously threaten Oklahoma City, which had five players score at least 15 points.

Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton did finish with 17 points, though he had scored just five through three quarters.

Here are the winners and losers from Game 2 of the NBA Finals:

WINNERS

Alex Caruso and Aaron Wiggins

It wasn’t just his defense, Thunder backup guard Alex Caruso also poured in 20 points — including four drained 3-pointers — in just 27:04 of playing time. He was steady and aggressive on the offensive end, cutting into the lane when gaps opened up.

Throw in fellow backup guard Aaron Wiggins, whose 18 points — including 5-of-8 from 3 — in just 20:32 also lifted the Thunder. That Caruso and Wiggins accounted for nearly 65% of Oklahoma City’s 14 made 3-pointers, is a testament to the Thunder’s depth.

Chet Holmgren

This was exactly the bounce-back game that the Thunder needed from center Chet Holmgren. Three nights after scoring just six points on 2-of-9 shooting, Holmgren got to work, though most of his production came early. Nine of his 15 points came in the first quarter.

The Thunder go big

After opting to play mostly small in Game 1, Oklahoma City leaned much more on its double-big lineup with its pair of centers, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, on the floor at the same time. The result was instant, with the Thunder dominating points in the paint in the first half, 26-12.

“It takes discipline, but we try to really use these early games in the series to learn what are options are and what our tradeoffs are — not assume anything,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said after the game. “That was the intent tonight: just to get a little more information.”

LOSERS

Tyrese Haliburton waits way too long

Through the first three quarters, the most important player of the Pacers had scored just five points on just 2-of-7 shooting. Through the first three and a half minutes of the fourth, Haliburton had scored nine points, making all four of his attempts.

While Haliburton’s rep as a closer cannot be questioned, his inexplicably slow starts could become costly. The Thunder will clog the paint and gameplan to slow Haliburton’s attacks into the paint. He needs to find ways to score regardless.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle downplayed Haliburton’s sluggish production, saying that Indiana’s team is an ‘ecosystem’ and that it doesn’t matter where points come from.

“There’s a lot more to the game than just scoring,” he said after the game. “Everybody’s got to do more.”

Regardless, Haliburton is the team’s most gifted player and the one who can score easiest.

The Pacers have no answer for OKC’s intensity and physicality

After the game, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle was asked his thoughts on how the Pacers responded to Oklahoma City’s ramped up defensive intensity. Carlisle answer was curt and straightforward.

“Not well,” he said.

The Thunder excel at crowding the paint when opposing players attack, collapsing, swarming and swatting at the ball. That is magnified particularly when Oklahoma City uses its double-big lineup with Holmgren and Hartenstein roaming down low. In the regular season, the Thunder ranked first in opponent points in the paint per game (42.5).

Indiana’s inability to attack the paint hurt its spacing and hurt its ability to get open looks from 3.

“The paint is our emphasis and the paint is our friend. The more that we’re able to attack the paint, usually better things happen for us,” Carlisle said.

Key players on Pacers bench no-show

Obi Toppin scored 17 points in Game 1. Thomas Bryant had five. Both players combined Sunday night to score 4 on 1-of-9 shooting.

Guards T.J. McConnell and Benedict Mathurin did combine for 25, but the Pacers will need much more balance from their contributions.

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The 2025 WNBA season hasn’t been the best start for the Chicago Sky. And now, the team was dealt a major blow to a star.

Guard Courtney Vandersloot suffered a torn right torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during Saturday’s loss to the Indiana Fever, the Sky announced. She will undergo surgery and miss the rest of the season.

The injury happened in the first quarter against Indiana in the first ever WNBA game at the United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls. Vandersloot was driving to the basket when she immediately went down and was in visible pain as she grabbed her right knee. Her teammates huddled around her, and she was eventually taken back to the locker room with the help of medical staff. She didn’t return for the remainder of the contest. The Fever won the game 79-52.

It’s a brutal injury as the WNBA veteran was playing her first season back with the team that selected her No. 3 overall in the 2011 draft. Vandersloot spent the first 11 seasons with Chicago and was instrumental in the team capturing its first WNBA title in 2021. She signed with the New York Liberty in 2023 and spent two seasons with the team, helping the Liberty win their first championship last year.

A five-time WNBA All-Star, Vandersloot is second in league history in assists with 2,887 career dimes, trailing Sue Bird’s 3,234 assists. She also owns several franchise records in Chicago, including most games played, points, assists and steals, while ranking in the top five of several other categories. She re-signed with the team in February.

‘She’s our engine,’ Sky coach Tyler Marsh said following the game against Indiana. ‘She’s our captain and our leader out there, so obviously, it’s a huge blow.’

Vandersloot averaged 10.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and a team-high 5.3 assists per game in seven games played.

Chicago is 2-5 on the season, standing in 11th place in the league as the team tries to get back to the postseason after missing it in 2024.

‘It’s heartbreaking. It’s heartbreaking to watch anybody, but especially one of our teammates and someone that means as much as Sloot does to this team and organization,’ Hailey Van Lith said postgame. ‘Whatever is in store in the future for this team, I trust we will find a way to make this moment mean something in the end.’ 

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault called the Indiana Pacers an acquired taste.

“We haven’t played them a ton,” Daigneault said. “They’re not in the West obviously. They play a very distinct style on both ends.”

After wasting an opportunity to win Game 1, the Thunder were left with a bitter aftertaste against the never-quite Pacers.

The Thunder devoured the Pacers in Game 2 Sunday, June 8, evening the NBA Finals with a 123-107 victory.

While the Pacers stole home-court advantage, they haven’t played great and it’s starting to become an issue as the series moves to Indianapolis for Games 3 and 4.

“Another bad first half,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “Obviously, it was a big problem, and we just played poorly. A little bit better in the second half but you can’t be a team that’s reactive and expect to be successful or have consistency.”

At this stage, the Pacers cannot rely on their ability to complete a comeback. They need to start better, and now, it’s on Carlisle and his staff to figure that out. Indiana trailed by as many as 23 points, and while the comebacks have been compelling, it’s not a recipe for playoff success.

“We’re going to have to be a lot better on Wednesday,” Carlisle said.

The Pacers have led for just one minute and 53.3 seconds of the 96 minutes in two games and their biggest lead is three points. It’s tiresome to play from behind for that long.

The Thunder were more physical, dominated the paint for the second consecutive game and limited Tyrese Haliburton to a quiet 17 points, 12 of which came in the fourth quarter when Oklahoma City had control of the game and was not in the mood to blow another double-digit lead.

How did the Pacers handle Oklahoma City’s physicality?

“Not well,” Carlisle said.

“They were the best in the league during the year at keeping people out of there (paint). They are great at it. We have to find ways to get the ball in there, and you know, it’s just there are so many things that have to go right on a set of two possessions to get the ball into the heart of their defense.”

Throughout the season and especially the playoffs, the Thunder’s top-ranked defense finds a way to take away or limit the opponent’s strengths. They did it against Denver and Minnesota in the Western conference semifinals and finals.

“Our offense is built from the inside-out, and we have to do a better job getting downhill,” Haliburton said. “They collapse and make plays from there. I thought we could improve a lot there. But yeah, they are flying around. They have got great point-of-attack defenders and great rim protectors. We can do a better job, watch the film, and see where we can get better going into Game 3.”

What about Haliburton’s performance?

“There’s a lot more to the game than just scoring. … People shouldn’t just look at his points and assists and judge how he played, or judge how any of our guys played just on that,” Carlisle said. “That’s not how our team is built. We are an ecosystem that has to function together. We’ve got to score enough points to win the game but who gets them and how they get them, not important.”

Pascal Siakam found no consolation in getting a split and grabbing home-court advantage in the series.

“You want to win every game you play, so we are not happy with how the game went today, and that’s it,” he said. “We’ve just got to turn the page, focus on Game 3. That’s the biggest game of the year.”

This series is much closer to being a 2-0 Thunder lead than a 2-0 Pacers lead, and between Game 1 and 2, Carlisle compared a playoff series to a book.

“Each game in this series is going to look different,” he said. “A playoff series is a series of seven chapters, and each one takes on a different personality.”

If the Pacers don’t find a way to start the next chapter better than they have, the book is going to close quickly on their championship aspirations.

Follow NBA columnist Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt

So, tennis fans, how’d you like another decade or so of that?

After Sunday’s French Open men’s final – a 5-hour, 29-minute epic that somehow ended with Carlos Alcaraz holding up the trophy for a second consecutive year – we can now officially close the book on the so-called Big Three era. 

There’s a new game in town. And it’s as spectacular to watch as anything tennis has ever seen. 

Yes, Alcaraz’s improbable comeback to beat Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (10-2) is the story of the day. Not only did Alcaraz win his fifth Grand Slam title at just one month into his 22nd year of life – an absurd accomplishment on its own – but he did it by summoning a competitive aura only the all-time greats possess.

He is, already, a legend. And that might have been the greatest match in the history of the sport. 

But the best part of Sunday’s match is that it’s not the end of the story. In many ways, it’s just the beginning.

The first Slam final between Alcaraz and Sinner not only exceeded every possible expectation, it sets an entirely new narrative for the sport. 

As Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal faded into retirement – most likely followed by Novak Djokovic in the next year or two – there was deep concern about what would come next after a 1½-decade battle between arguably the three best to ever hold a racket. 

Now we know definitively. Tennis is in the safest of hands. And barring something unforeseen, these two spectacular athletes are going to be doing battle in Grand Slam finals for many, many years to come. 

If you managed to watch the whole thing, or even just the last couple sets, it was easy to understand why that’s such a tantalizing possibility.

Let’s start with the level of play. In a word, spectacular. 

Though Sinner and Alcaraz are each elite individually, combining to win the last six Grand Slam titles, the greatness they manage to draw out of each other is unique. Though different players stylistically and tactically, they have now twice played matches that could be considered among the best in the history of the sport in terms of ballstriking, endurance and the high standard it took to win a single point. 

When they played a US Open quarterfinal deep into the night in 2022, with Alcaraz emerging after 5 hours, 15 minutes, it showed the possibility of a friendly rivalry between two generational talents that had stretched back to childhood. It has widely been considered the best match of the decade, not just for the length of the match but the drama and the quality they both laid on the line.

It only took three years to exceed that standard. 

Which leads to the second element of this ongoing story. 

What it took for Alcaraz to win that match – to beat Sinner on this particular day – was a sustained effort that few players in history could have managed. Maybe Djokovic. Maybe Nadal. Maybe. 

Because even though the all-time greats have all come back from two sets down and saved match points on the way to Grand Slam titles, few have had so little help from an opponent. Sure, there may be a shot or two that Sinner would want back after failing to convert three match points in the fourth set, then failing to serve out the tournament in the next game. But mostly, from that point until the final winner came off Alcaraz’s racket, it was mostly about his greatness and his relentless shotmaking.

Even in the fifth set, with Sinner clearly tiring more quickly than his opponent, he summoned enough energy to erase Alcaraz’s early break of serve and send the match to a final tiebreak where – guess what – Alcaraz continued to pound clean winners off impossible angles. 

Sinner did not lose this match. Alcaraz just got up off the clay and stole it. 

We can debate where this final ranks among the 2008 Wimbledon final between Nadal and Federer or the 1980 Wimbledon final between John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg when you factor in all the intangibles. But if we’re just talking about the quality of tennis played by two men over that length of time? It would be difficult to say there’s ever been a better match. 

If the world was watching Sunday, it had to love what it saw. 

And when you realize what’s ahead between them – more finals, more trophies, more history – this one felt like a moment to mark in time. 

One chapter of tennis closes, another begins. And it’s going to be as entertaining as any we’ve seen. 

CHICAGO — Well, at least the Sky avoided setting a new franchise-low in points. 

The Sky managed just 52 points, matching the worst in the WNBA this season, in their blowout loss to the Indiana Fever on Saturday night. That’s better than the franchise-low 48 they scored against the Detroit Shock on Aug. 10, 2006, their first season. But it ties the fifth-lowest total in team history and worst since scoring 49 against the New York Liberty in 2011. 

The Sky also did not have a single player in double figures, with Kamilla Cardoso and Rebecca Allen leading the team with eight points each. 

The ugly showing came on a night the Sky played their first game at the United Center, in front of a sellout crowd of 19,496. 

Here are the latest updates from this matchup, including score and highlights.

Courtney Vandersloot injury update

CHICAGO — Chicago Sky coach Tyler Marsh had no update on Courtney Vandersloot’s injury, saying they’re ‘still assessing’ the veteran point guard. 

Vandersloot was driving to the basket midway through the first quarter when she went down, grabbing her knee. She had to be carried off the floor and was immediately taken back to the locker room. The Sky quickly said she would not return. 

Marsh said the injury took a toll on the Sky emotionally, and they were never able to regroup in the 79-52 blowout by the Indiana Fever. 

‘It’s heartbreaking. It’s heartbreaking to watch anybody, but especially one of our teammates and someone that means as much as Sloot does to this team and organization,’ Hailey Van Lith said. ‘Whatever is in store in the future for this team, I trust we will find a way to make this moment mean something in the end.’ 

Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky highlights

Final: Fever 79, Sky 52

No Caitlin Clark? No problem in this one for the Indiana Fever.

Four Fever players hit double-digit points while no member of the Sky cleared 10 points. Angel Reese was held to just four points on 2-for-7 shooting. She did have a game-high 12 rebounds.

As a team the Sky shot just 32.7% from the field and hit just three 3-pointers on 15 attempts (20%). The Fever hit 45.8% of their shots and were 11-for-27 from 3 (40.7%). Kelsey Mitchell had a game-high 17 points.

Check out full stats from the game here.

Fever vs. Sky score: Indiana opens huge lead

The Fever is rolling and now leads Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky by 29 points. Without Caitlin Clark, Indiana has still managed to go 23-of-47 and is now 48.9% from the field as a team.

Score: Indiana Fever 68, Chicago Sky 39

Natasha Howard launches a deep dagger

With a quarter and a half still to play, Natasha Howard might have just delivered the dagger for the Indiana Fever.

The Sky had smothered the Fever for almost the entire length of the shot clock, only to have Kelsey Mitchell flip the ball to Howard, who drained a 3 as the buzzer sounded. It extended Indiana’s lead to 54-35 and gave Howard 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting. — Nancy Armour

Fever vs. Sky halftime score: Indiana leads Chicago

That was a rough ending to the first half for the Chicago Sky. 

Both teams are short-handed, but the Fever has had a little more poise and controlled much of the first half. But the Sky cranked up the defense, limiting the Fever’s offense while making a few shots of their own, and managed to pare Indiana’s lead to 34-26 on a Kia Nurse 3 with 1:17 left in the half. 

But Lexie Hull hit a three, and the Sky got sloppy, sending Indiana to the foul line three times in the last 35 seconds. The Fever made 4 of their 6 free throws, extending their lead. — Nancy Armour

Score: Indiana Fever 41, Chicago Sky 28

Courtney Vandersloot injury update: Will not return to game

Unsurprisingly, Courtney Vandersloot has been ruled out for the rest of the game. 

The veteran guard was driving to the basket midway through the first quarter when she went to the ground, clutching her knee. She had to be helped off the floor and was carried straight to the locker room. — Nancy Armour

Fever vs. Sky: Highlights

Fever vs. Sky score update: Indiana up after Q1

No Caitlin Clark, no problem so far. Indiana leads the Sky 21-13. Kelsey Mitchell leads Fever players with eight points on a perfect 3-of-3 from the field.

Kamila Cardoso (shoulder) has four points on 1-of-2 shooting, also grabbing three boards in the first quarter.

Courtney Vandersloot injured

Courtney Vandersloot went down with a knee injury midway through the first quarter and this does not look good for her. Or the Chicago Sky.

The veteran point guard appeared to come down hard beneath the basket and immediately clutched her knee. Her teammates quickly gathered around her and she stayed on the ground for several minutes before being carried off the floor and right to the locker room. 

Vandersloot’s return to Chicago after two years with the New York Liberty was the Sky’s big move this offseason, signed for both her point guard savvy and veteran leadership. Angel Reese was praising her calmness before the game, saying it’s helped the team during a rough start to the season. 

Vandersloot was originally drafted by the Sky. She recently became the team’s scoring leader, breaking wife Allie Quigley’s record. — Nancy Armour

Kamilla Cardoso in game vs. Fever

Kamilla Cardoso is in the starting lineup for Saturday night’s game against the Indiana Fever.

Cardoso was held out of practice a couple of times this weekend for what Sky coach Tyler Marsh said was precautions over shoulder issues. But he said before the game that she was good to go and, indeed, she was on the court for the opening tip. — Nancy Armour

What time is Sky vs. Fever?

Saturday’s matchup between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky is set to tip off at 8 pm. ET, with the action taking place at the United Center in Chicago.

How to watch Sky vs. Fever WNBA game: TV, stream

• Time: 8 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. CT
• Location: United Center (Chicago)
• TV: CBS
• Stream: Fubo, WNBA League Pass, YouTube TV

Why is Caitlin Clark not playing today?

Clark said Thursday she would not play in the Fever’s matchup against the Sky on Saturday, marking the fourth consecutive game she’ll miss due to a left quad injury.

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