Courtney Vandersloot is headed back to the only other WNBA home she’s ever known after two seasons in the Big Apple,
Vandersloot, who helped the Liberty win the franchise’s first-ever championship last season, is signing a deal to return to the Chicago Sky, her agent told The Athletic.
While the two sides have come to an agreement, the WNBA free agent signing period doesn’t begin until Saturday.
Before her agent had even confirmed the news, first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, Vandersloot had changed her Instagram bio to include a mention of the Sky in it.
Vandersloot, 35, had averaged 6.4 points and 4.8 assists per game last season, but saw her role reduced during the Liberty’s postseason run.
It seemed clear that Vandersloot wasn’t thrilled with how she was used in the postseason and had said earlier this month she would test the waters in free agency and “see the best situation for me and my family.”
When addressing what she wanted from the team she signed with, Vandersloot said she wanted to be “valued.”
“I want to be competitive, obviously. That’s why you come into this league — you want to be competing for championships. And a place that takes care of me, wants me to be there and … sees what I can bring to the team,” she said. “That’s most important. I want to have the ball in my hands and be able to create the way that I can. And just be in a place that is comfortable for me and my family.”
Chicago is quite familiar with what Vandersloot can bring to the floor.
She was drafted third overall by the organization in 2011, spent 12 years with the Sky and helped lead the team to a title in 2021.
Vandersloot departed the Windy City after the team failed to repeat as champions the following year, coming to New York amid much fanfare the same year as WNBA superstar Breanna Stewart signed with the Liberty.
Vandersloot is the Sky’s all-time assist leader and is second in league history in the category behind only Sue Bird.