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Why Courtney Vandersloot Might Not Return to Sky

The veteran guard is one of many free agents for the Chicago Sky, but re-signing with her original WNBA franchise is not a guarantee.

Scott Conrad

Jun 7, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Indiana Fever guard AariMcDonald (2) defends against Chicago Sky guard Courtney Vandersloot (22) during the first half of a WNBA game at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Jun 7, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Indiana Fever guard AariMcDonald (2) defends against Chicago Sky guard Courtney Vandersloot (22) during the first half of a WNBA game at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images / Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

So many players will be free agents in the WNBA and available to sign once a new collective bargaining agreement is in place. Until then, one can only speculate where certain stars will go for the 2026 season.

One notable name in particular for the Chicago Sky is veteran guard and two-time WNBA champion Courtney Vandersloot. Despite playing in just a few games in 2025, the future Hall of Famer became the franchise's all-time leading scorer. Vandersloot passed up the previous record, held by her wife, Allie Quigley.

Vandersloot isn't the only player for Chicago that remains unsigned. Veteran guard Ariel Atkins does not have a team for 2026, yet, either. Rebecca Allen, Kia Nurse, and Rachel Batham are also free agents. As is the case with Elizabeth Williams.

However, Vandersloot is the only member of the Sky to publicly announce that she wants to return and play another season for Chicago. Which quite possibly be her last in the WNBA as she turns 37 in February and is coming off a season-ending ACL tear.

Here's one major reason why the former New York Liberty guard wouldn't play a second season in a row for the Sky.

After seeing her wife, Allie Quigley, get her number retired by the Sky, Courtney Vandersloot is now their all-time scorer.
Jul 9, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Sky guard Courtney Vandersloot speaks during her wife's Allie Quigley jersey retirement ceremony during a WNBA game between the Chicago Sky and Dallas Wings at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images / Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Vandersloot's Connection to One of the WNBA's Newest Teams

After 12 seasons with the Sky, Vandersloot chose to sign with the New York Liberty after the 2022 WNBA season. Her decision paid dividends as the former Gonzaga Bulldog guard won her second championship title in the league in 2024. The first one was in 2021, when she played in Chicago alongside Quigley, Candace Parker, Kahleah Copper, and others.

James Wade, the head coach of the Sky during their championship season, is no longer employed in the WNBA. Her most recent former head coach, Sandy Brondello, could be the reason why Vandersloot leaves Chicago for the second time in her playing career.

After the defending WNBA champs lost to the Phoenix Mercury in the first round, the New York Liberty fired Sandy Brondello.
New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello reacts during action against the Phoenix Mercury in the first half of Game One of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs first round at PHX Arena on Sept. 14, 2025. / Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Brondello was just fired after a first-round playoff exit with the Liberty. This came one year after she coached the Liberty to their first-ever WNBA championship since they entered the league in 1997.

One of the two new expansion teams in the league, the Toronto Tempo, made quick work to enlist Brondello's services. She even went on to say that she expects the Tempo to compete and aim for a title in their first year.

As reported by Richard Deitsch of the New York Times, “Yes, it will be different because it is an expansion team, but that’s also exciting because now you can build from the ground up,” Brondell said. “You can bring players in that will represent this city and this team in the right way. But the goal is to bring a championship to Toronto. My narrative has not changed. I like winning.”

With a championship-focused coach who is already familiar with Brondello and her coaching style, Vandersloot may have already played her final game for the Sky.

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Scott Conrad
SCOTT CONRAD

My name is Scott Conrad and I am a Contributor for the Chicago Sky with Sports Illustrated.com. I am also a Contributor with FanSided on NinerNoise, as well as Da Windy City. In addition, I am the Site Editor/Expert for The View from Avalon. I spent two seasons (2015 & 2016) with the Tampa Bay Times as a Correspondent covering high school football. I am a two-time published author with more work to come. In my teenage years, I started watching both MLS and WNBA start in 1996 and grow to be the juggernauts they are in their respective sports. Much love to the career on and off the court for fellow-Napervillian and former Sky forward Candace Parker. Outside of the sports journalism world, I am a travel volleyball coach. I accepted the Head Coach position with Greater Cincinnati Volleyball Club for their U13-2 team. In terms of active sports, I play volleyball, soccer, softball, kickball and train in mixed martial arts.

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