Courtney Vandersloot’s time with the Liberty seems to be coming to an finish.
At the least that’s what it appeared like Tuesday throughout her first Unmatched media availability.
At 35 and with greater than a decade of WNBA expertise, Vandersloot is aware of what she desires throughout this free company interval.
And with how her scenario in New York soured on the finish of final season, that may rule out a doable return to the Liberty.
“I want to be valued,” Vandersloot mentioned when requested what she was prioritizing for herself in free company. “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 additionally mentioned she isn’t dedicated to rejoining New York for a 3rd season.
“I’m going to go through free agency and see the best situation for me and my family,” Vandersloot mentioned. “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 back out and say it point-blank. However in studying the tea leaves, the Liberty ought to be bracing for subsequent season with out Vandersloot.
It shouldn’t come completely as a shock given how final season ended.
After beginning in her first 80 video games with the Liberty over the previous two seasons, together with all 31 of the regular-season video games she appeared in final season, Vandersloot was moved to a lowered function through the 2024 playoffs.
Coach Sandy Brondello made a shock tweak to her beginning lineup within the playoffs, sending pass-first guard Vandersloot, a 14-year veteran, to the bench in favor of rookie guard Leonie Fiebich.
On the time, Vandersloot was informed the change was made to keep away from a “chunky” offense and unfold out the playmakers of herself, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton and Sabrina Ionescu.
With Vandersloot in a lowered function, Ionescu took over lead level guard duties and averaged 16.9 factors, 5.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds within the playoffs en path to main the Liberty to the franchise’s first title.
In the meantime, Vandersloot got here off the bench in Recreation 1 of the first-round sequence in opposition to the Atlanta Dream, marking her first time not beginning a WNBA recreation since 2017.
She didn’t begin a single playoff recreation and totaled lower than 10 minutes mixed in Video games 4 and 5 of the WNBA Finals.
In 11 playoff video games, Vandersloot posted 5.3 factors, 2.5 assists and a pair of.4 rebounds in 14.3 minutes off the bench.
Vandersloot spent the primary 12 seasons with the Sky after they drafted her No. 3 total out of Gonzaga in 2011.
She received a championship with Chicago in 2021, however after a failed title protection the next season, she determined to tackle a change of surroundings and be part of the booming superteam in New York.
Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart, Ionescu and Vandersloot have been the pillars of the roster that had hopes of bringing a title to New York.
They succeeded of their second yr collectively, however now a kind of key gamers seems to be on her manner out.
Free brokers can start speaking with groups beginning Jan. 21 earlier than the official free agent signing interval opens Feb. 1.
Vandersloot is in Miami now getting ready for Unmatched Basketball’s inaugural season, which begins Jan. 17.
She’ll be taking part in alongside Liberty teammate Breanna Stewart throughout Unmatched and can face Ionescu on Jan. 24, when the Mist play the Phantom.
Within the meantime, Vandersloot mentioned Unmatched is the final word place to be totally free brokers.
And whereas determining her WNBA future is usually a heavy process, she doesn’t consider she’ll have any troubles navigating that whereas taking part in within the new 3-on-3 basketball league.
“That’s the name of the game is just being able to balance those things,” Vandersloot, 35, mentioned. “We’re right here to work and get higher however clearly free company is across the nook.
“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.”
