Point guard Courtney Vandersloot has agreed to a one-year deal with the Chicago Sky, according to Mechelle Voepel of ESPN.
The WNBA assists leader for the past four seasons, Vandersloot’s status with the Sky had been in question this offseason. In early February, it was reported that the unrestricted free agent was looking abroad after the Sky made a “disrespectful” offer. Additionally, UMMC Ekaterinburg was reportedly considering paying her to sit out the 2022 WNBA season.
Vandersloot’s return will be key in the Sky’s title defense. Last season, she averaged 10.5 points, 8.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.7 steals for the WNBA champions.
She was even better in the 2021 playoffs, averaging 13.0 points, 10.2 assists and 5.4 rebounds. In the Sky’s semifinal series against the Connecticut Sun, she posted just the second triple-double in WNBA playoff history, with 12 points, 18 assists and 10 rebounds in the win.
Vandersloot has spent the entirety of her 11-year WNBA career with the Sky.
Her return is a sigh of relief for many as other key players from the championship team have departed in the offseason. Stefanie Dolson signed with the New York Liberty while Diamond DeShields was traded to Phoenix. The Sky acquired Julie Allemand in that deal, and they have also signed Emma Meeseman to a contract.
