CHICAGO -- Courtney Vandersloot recalled wondering if there would ever be a third WNBA season. After being drafted No. 23, she was 23 years old and had a solid rookie year. Her numbers increased in 2012, but her confidence did not.
Vandersloot stated that it was difficult for him to believe that he was good enough to be in the league or that he would last. "I believed maybe the first year had been a case of beginner's luck. "Like, 'You don’t have the excuse to be a rookie anymore. They’re going to expose.'
It didn't happen. Instead, she has been a top-notch point guard in the WNBA and has led the league's assists for five consecutive seasons. Vandersloot is the Chicago Sky's coach, and the team is within one win of winning its first WNBA title. Sunday's Game 4 will be at 3 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN Application) of the 2021 WNBA Finals.
Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury's Diana Taurasi, was asked by the Phoenix Mercury where Vandersloot ranked in her ability to manage a team.
Taurasi said, "She's as smart as anyone." Taurasi said.
Vandersloot's WNBA postseason record of 87 assists is this year. She scored her 10th playoff game in which she had at least 10 assists on Friday. This surpasses Sue Bird, the Seattle Storm's record holder. Vandersloot is the WNBA's record holder for the most assists in a single game, with 18. She averages 13.3 points per game and 9.7 assists during this postseason.
Vandersloot's 2,178 assists are more than the 1,078 that Lindsay Whalen, Ticha Penicheiro, and Bird have given.
As a 5-foot-8, 8-inch grinder, she says that she has been there. She always tries to be one step ahead in offense and defense because "I have to." I won't be able to beat anybody, or out-physical anyone. I must think through everything."
Taurasi is proud of Vandersloot's direction of Chicago's offense, even though her Mercury trails the Sky 2-1 in Finals.
Taurasi stated, "She does a great job making sure everyone is in the right spot. She also controls the pace and gets people the ball at just the right time." Taurasi said, "There is no one better in our game right now at doing that." Add to that her improved shooting skills... she is a beast."
Courtney Vandersloot won the triple-overtime win over Connecticut in the opening match of their semifinal series. This is only the second triple-double in WNBA playoffs history. Kamil Krzaczynski/NBAE via Getty Images
But when Pokey Chatman, a former Sky coach and general manger, drafted Vandersloot as the third draft pick of 2011, the Gonzaga standout was shocked.
Vandersloot stated that she was not prepared for her name being named after Liz Cambage and Maya Moore a decade ago. It feels like it goes back to high school. I was not highly recruited. Gonzaga decided to take a chance on my talents, which ended up working out in my favor.
Pokey Chatman is the reason I am still here today. Her belief in me was an enormous boost to my career. But I felt that I had something to prove. "I was not going to stay in this league just because I was drafted high."
In her rookie season, Vandersloot scored 6.5 points and gave out 3.7 assists. Penicheiro, a veteran point guard who was voted to "W25" last month as the 25 most influential and great players in WNBA history, arrived in Chicago to complete her 15th and final WNBA year.
Vandersloot was struggling with self-doubt during 2012 and Penicheiro was closely following her.
Vandersloot stated, "I needed her help to show me how I could be successful in this league." "How to manage your team. It was obvious that Ticha and I played in a certain way on the floor. When I was on the ground, it was more chaotic.
Vandersloot realized that this was okay. There was more than one way.
Penicheiro stated that she was just a baby when Penicheiro spoke of her potential. "I don't find it surprising that she is so good at making teammates feel better and she also passes well. She can score when she needs to. It's not surprising that Sloot is one of the best point guards in this league's history.
Courtney Vandersloot is an average 9.7 assists per game in the postseason. This is according to Ticha Penicheiro, legendary guard. Kena Krutsinger/NBAE via Getty Images
Vandersloot gives many reasons for her growth. She cites the lessons she learned from playing overseas. Every coach she's had has taught her things. James Wade, Chicago's current coach, said that Vandersloot and he have spent hours talking to each other both at home with the Sky and abroad with UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia.
Wade stated, "I was also a point guard so I understand it." Wade said, "She knows my ups and downs, and I know hers." Both of us can be moody when we lose. Because I know her thoughts and she knows mine, I truly appreciate our relationship.
Wade helped Vandersloot to get through a devastating loss that really hurt her. The Sky led the Las Vegas Aces by 2 points in the final seconds of a 2019 playoff game. Vandersloot's turnover resulted in a half-court win for the Aces. Vandersloot was resentful at the Sky's loss.
She said, "I stew over everything, and that loss at Vegas was the most devastating." James was great about helping me. He said, "This is not the end of your story." This is an integral part of moving forward.
"Oh my God, I didn't know I had a triple-double!"
Courtney Vandersloot talked to @sportsiren about her playoff triple-double. pic.twitter.com/f40w0lP6Lv ESPN (@espn) September 29, 2021
Allie Quigley is Vandersloot’s wife and Sky guard. She said Vandersloot has become a true leader.
Quigley stated that there has been a tremendous increase in her confidence over the years. It all started with Pokey. Even Michael Alter, our owner, gave her books on leadership and tried to help her see the same things that everyone else.
"Maybe she was the underdog growing up. She was small and scrappy. She's had this mentality all her life.
Vandersloot smiled and admitted that she was also "a little stubborn". She resisted the temptation to be more vocal or lead in a way that wasn't authentic to her. She was thrilled to be part the 2014 Sky team that reached the WNBA Finals. However, Chicago was swept by Phoenix.
Vandersloot was then made the face of Sky as Sylvia Fowles, Elena Delle Donne and other Sky stars asked for trades.
Vandersloot chuckled, "I had my moments like they were on to something." "It's not something I should admit, but it is. They are a big reason I am still here. Because I wanted to change this perception. Although Chicago hasn't always had the best reputation, and players weren't interested in coming here for any reason whatsoever, I always believed those perceptions to be false. "I wanted to change that perception and win a championship.
Vandersloot stated that Candace Parker signing as a Sky free agent this year was the "missing piece." Parker stated that Vandersloot was a part of the reason she came. Parker was born in suburban Chicago's Naperville. Quigley hails from Joliet in Illinois, approximately 40 miles southwest Chicago. He played college basketball here at DePaul.
They are the Sky's hometown heroes, but Vandersloot, despite her being from Kent, Washington, has become a Chicago legend. She's been there through all the good and bad seasons of the Sky. Vandersloot believed that the Sky would be 16-16 this season. She knew that the Sky would win the support of the city if they were to make the playoffs.
Vandersloot stated that Chicago is a great sports town. There were many times when the [arena] was empty, and I don’t blame anyone for that. You have to play good basketball. People want to see you win. It's finally coming together, and people are starting to see the value and getting on board.
