It has been a trying and emotional year for Liberty guard Courtney Vandersloot after her mother, Jan, passed away from cancer in June.
Vandersloot started in all 31 of her regular-season appearances, but the 15-year WNBA veteran also has come off the bench — with rookie Leonie Fiebich replacing her in the starting five — in each of the Libs’ first four playoff contests, including Game 2 of the WNBA semifinals Tuesday night against the Las Vegas Aces at Barclays Center.
“Once again, it’s a life thing, isn’t it?” Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said before Tuesday’s game. “Basketball is what we do; it’s not who we are. What Sloot’s gone through, I mean, no one wants to go through that.
“She’s handled it as well as she can, and she’s been amazing. She’s so important for what we do. Obviously, her role’s changed too, but it just shows the kind of person that she is. She’s all class. She’s all about the team.”
Vandersloot, a five-time All-Star, contributed three points, four assists and two steals in 14 minutes during the Liberty’s 87-77 win Sunday in Game 1.
She also came off the bench in each of the team’s two games of a first-round sweep of Atlanta in the opening round.
Vandersloot said earlier during the playoffs that her “mentality doesn’t change” in a reserve role, despite averaging just 15.7 minutes over her first three postseason appearances.
“She’s very valued here,” Brondello added. “I thought her minutes for us, moving to the bench, I think she’s handled it well, but it’s actually helped us become a better team, and I think she sees that, and I think it’s helping her be even more impactful for this team.”
Vandersloot took some time away from the team earlier this summer after her mom passed away following a battle with multiple myeloma.
“It’s just like, it’s a family, you wrap your arms around and you help, and you’re there,” said Australia native Brondello said. “They’re going to have good and bad days, but I think she’s handled the situation as well as you would expect. And I think her mum would be very proud of her, just going out and continue to do something that she loves doing.”
Las Vegas coach and Hall of Famer Becky Hammon, who played for the Liberty from 1999-2006, also praised Vandersloot before Game 2.
She said the Aces dealt with a similar situation after forward Alysha Clark lost her father in 2022.
“It’s just heavy. It’s hard. They’re playing every night with a broken heart,” Hammon said. “This is a game that always has provided them a lot of comfort. Whatever they’re going through, they get on the basketball court, and they get to be happy and escape that pain a little bit on the court.
“So you add that in, and Sandy decided to make a switch in the starting lineup, and let me tell you that’s difficult on Sandy, too. Because any time you have to have those conversations, they’re hard because of the respect that you have for that player. And you’re always taking into consideration what they’re going through personally and always trying to help them manage whatever road they’re walking down at the moment.”
Hammon added that she’s “not surprised” that Vandersloot continues to be effective in a reduced role.
“She’s a baller, no doubt about it,” Hammon said. “Nobody passes the ball like her. So it’s impressive to play with that kind of heavy heart, night in and night out. And to be, I would say, repositioned in your basketball role is tough.
“But I think ultimately, Courtney wants to win, and she’s gonna do whatever her coach asks her to do to the best of her ability and put her feelings and everything aside. That’s being a pro, and she’s the ultimate pro.”