Free agent guard Courtney Vandersloot is making her return to Chicago, as confirmed by her representative on Wednesday.
The seasoned guard will rejoin the team that selected her in the 2011 draft after spending the last two seasons with the New York team, according to her agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas. WNBA regulations state that free agents cannot officially sign contracts until February 1.
Vandersloot holds the record for the most assists in Chicago Sky history and ranks second for assists in WNBA history, trailing only Sue Bird. She played a pivotal role in leading the Sky to their inaugural WNBA championship in 2021. Now, she is expected to bring her extensive experience to a youthful Chicago team, which features promising players like Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso in the frontcourt. The Sky will also be introducing new head coach Tyler Marsh this season and currently own the third overall pick in the upcoming WNBA draft.
The news about Vandersloot’s signing was initially reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.
The 35-year-old guard recently celebrated her second WNBA championship with New York this past season. During that season, she made the choice to move from a starting position to a bench role midway through, focusing on supporting the second unit with her playmaking skills.
It was a particularly challenging year for Vandersloot off the court, as she grieved the loss of her mother, Jan, who passed away from cancer in June.
A five-time All-Star, Vandersloot has led the league in assists seven times and is also competing in the new Unrivaled 3-on-3 league. She has taken meetings with other WNBA teams during her time there and humorously noted that a franchise offering her a pack of Indian Pale Ales (IPAs) might have an edge in recruiting her.
“I’m an IPA drinker, so while that’s not a requirement, if you come armed with a pack of IPAs, you might just get ahead,” she joked.
Vandersloot, who attracted interest from teams including Seattle and Golden State, has averaged 10 points and 6.6 assists throughout her career.
