It wasn’t goodbye after all for the Chicago Sky. In a thrilling turn of events, two-time WNBA champion Courtney Vandersloot is making a highly anticipated return to the franchise for the 2025 season—just two years after leaving for a new chapter. This reunion is bound to ignite excitement among fans and elevate the team's game as they forge a new era.
Vandersloot, who will celebrate her 36th birthday next month, is set to rejoin the Sky once free agency officially opens this Saturday. The Chicago Sun-Times broke the news on Wednesday, which was quickly confirmed by a trusted league source. Vandersloot, known for her unflashy, humble style, then made it official on her own terms. She updated her social media to include two simple but powerful words: "Chicago Sky." That was all it took for fans to go wild with excitement. The floor general was coming home.
The point guard, selected No. 3 overall in the 2011 WNBA Draft, left the Sky after the 2022 season, having firmly established herself as one of the league's premier talents. Over the years, she racked up four All-Star appearances and became the team captain. Her leadership and sheer determination were vital to the Sky securing their first-ever championship in 2021—an achievement that sent waves of joy through the Windy City.
Standing at 5-foot-8, Vandersloot is not one to dominate the court with sheer size or athleticism, but her court vision and passing skills are second to none. In fact, she's the WNBA's all-time second-place leader in career assists, behind only the legendary Sue Bird. With 2,850 career assists, Vandersloot has also set the league's single-game assist record with a stunning 18 assists in one game back in 2020. Additionally, she boasts six of the seven highest assist averages in WNBA history, including a record-breaking 10 per game in 2020.
However, the Vandersloot we’re about to see in 2025 will be a little different. After spending the last two seasons with the New York Liberty, including a championship-winning run in 2024, she returns to Chicago as a two-time WNBA champion. But her journey with the Liberty was far from easy. It was a season of growth, both on and off the court, as Vandersloot faced some of the toughest challenges of her life.
In June 2024, she tragically lost her mother, Jan, to a long battle with multiple myeloma. This devastating loss caused her to take a brief leave from the team, but her resilience saw her return to the court, and her influence on the Liberty was undeniable. In fact, it was her leadership and playmaking that helped guide New York to its first-ever WNBA title. Yet, even in the midst of this personal and professional evolution, Vandersloot's knack for playmaking never wavered.
Her role with the Liberty also shifted in a big way. Throughout the regular season and previous playoff appearances, Vandersloot had always been a starter, a mainstay on the court. But in the 2024 playoffs, she came off the bench for the first time in her career, averaging 2.5 assists in just 14.3 minutes per game. It was a significant shift, but one she embraced with grace, helping her team succeed while adapting to this new phase of her career.
Now, back with the Sky, Vandersloot's role will once again look different. The Sky are in the midst of an exciting transformation under first-year head coach Tyler Marsh. This marks a fresh start for the team, and Vandersloot’s leadership will be crucial as they attempt to establish a new culture. The Sky will be looking to her to provide both on-court direction and off-court mentorship for younger talents like Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. For these up-and-coming players, having a two-time champion as a teammate and mentor is an invaluable opportunity.
On the court, the Sky will be relying on Vandersloot's unmatched passing ability to help facilitate the offense and keep the ball moving. The team will need her to help streamline their offense, getting the ball into the hands of their best scorers in the most effective way possible. After all, this is what Vandersloot does best: she makes everyone around her better, whether it’s through her slick assists or her overall basketball IQ. Expect her to be the one calling the shots, leading with confidence and precision as she always has.
With Vandersloot back in the fold, the Sky now have their first unrestricted free agent for the 2025 season signed. It’s a huge victory for the front office, and this move sets the stage for the rest of the offseason. The Sky will now focus on further building up their backcourt, whether through the draft, free agency, or trade acquisitions. As the franchise reshapes itself under new leadership, the return of Vandersloot will serve as a crucial foundation for whatever comes next.
This reunion isn’t just about a player coming back to her old team. It’s about a legacy. It’s about a player who has been at the heart of one of the most exciting periods in Chicago Sky history. Vandersloot helped lead the franchise to a championship in 2021, a victory that resonated across the city and added a new layer of pride for fans. Her return signals not just a new chapter for the team but a chance to reignite that championship spirit.
With her passing wizardry, leadership, and newfound experience, Vandersloot is more than ready to step back into the spotlight in Chicago. The stage is set for her to make yet another indelible mark on the WNBA—and her presence will undoubtedly play a big role in the Sky’s quest to reclaim their former glory.
For Chicago fans, the return of Vandersloot is cause for celebration. Her remarkable journey, both personal and professional, has been one of growth, resilience, and triumph. Now, as the team prepares for the 2025 season, one thing is clear: the Sky just got a whole lot brighter with Courtney Vandersloot back in the mix.
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