Courtney Vandersloot’s time with the Liberty appears to be coming to an end.
At least that’s what it sounded like Tuesday during her first Unrivaled media availability.
At 35 and with more than a decade of WNBA experience, Vandersloot knows what she wants during this free agency period.
And with how her situation in New York soured at the end of last season, that might rule out a possible return to the Liberty.
“I want to be valued,” Vandersloot said when asked what she was prioritizing for herself in free agency. “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 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.”
Vandersloot also said she isn’t committed to rejoining New York for a third season.
“I’m going to go through free agency and see the best situation for me and my family,” Vandersloot said. “Obviously New York is where I was currently [and I] feel like I’m part of the New York Liberty and coming off a championship. But I’m gonna go through free agency and just see what’s best for me.”
Vandersloot didn’t have to come out and say it point-blank. But in reading the tea leaves, the Liberty should be bracing for next season without Vandersloot.
It shouldn’t come entirely as a surprise given how last season ended.
After starting in her first 80 games with the Liberty over the past two seasons, including all 31 of the regular-season games she appeared in last season, Vandersloot was moved to a reduced role during the 2024 playoffs.
Coach Sandy Brondello made a surprise tweak to her starting lineup in the playoffs, sending pass-first guard Vandersloot, a 14-year veteran, to the bench in favor of rookie guard Leonie Fiebich.
At the time, Vandersloot was told the change was made to avoid a “chunky” offense and spread out the playmakers of herself, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton and Sabrina Ionescu.
With Vandersloot in a reduced role, Ionescu took over lead point guard duties and averaged 16.9 points, 5.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds in the playoffs en route to leading the Liberty to the franchise’s first title.
Meanwhile, Vandersloot came off the bench in Game 1 of the first-round series against the Atlanta Dream, marking her first time not starting a WNBA game since 2017.
She didn’t start a single playoff game and totaled less than 10 minutes combined in Games 4 and 5 of the WNBA Finals.
In 11 playoff games, Vandersloot posted 5.3 points, 2.5 assists and 2.4 rebounds in 14.3 minutes off the bench.
Vandersloot spent the first 12 seasons with the Sky after they drafted her No. 3 overall out of Gonzaga in 2011.
She won a championship with Chicago in 2021, but after a failed title defense the following season, she decided to take on a change of scenery and join the booming superteam in New York.
Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart, Ionescu and Vandersloot were the pillars of the roster that had hopes of bringing a title to New York.
They succeeded in their second year together, but now one of those key players appears to be on her way out.
Free agents can begin talking with teams starting Jan. 21 before the official free agent signing period opens Feb. 1.
Vandersloot is in Miami now preparing for Unrivaled Basketball’s inaugural season, which starts Jan. 17.
She’ll be playing alongside Liberty teammate Breanna Stewart during Unrivaled and will face Ionescu on Jan. 24, when the Mist play the Phantom.
In the meantime, Vandersloot said Unrivaled is the ultimate place to be for free agents.
And while figuring out her WNBA future can be a heavy task, she doesn’t believe she’ll have any troubles navigating that while playing in the new 3-on-3 basketball league.
“That’s the name of the game is just being able to balance those things,” Vandersloot, 35, said. “We’re here to work and get better but obviously free agency is around the corner.
“What a great opportunity for everyone to be right here. I’m sure there will be a lot of people in town we can meet with teams and I see free agents in the hallways. I think it’s a great place to be if you’re a free agent.”