Courtney Vandersloot — a five-time WNBA All-Star and two-time WNBA champion — is one of dozens of high-impact free agents this summer.
New York Liberty guard sheds light on free agency: “I want to be valued”
Courtney Vandersloot is fresh off of a WNBA championship with the Liberty — but could be headed elsewhere in free agency.
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Noa Dalzell is a senior writer covering the WNBA and all of women’s basketball for Breakaway, SB Nation’s women’s sports vertical, as well as the Celtics for CelticsBlog.
In her 14th season, the veteran point guard averaged 6.4 points and 4.8 assists in 22.3 minutes per game, and helped the New York Liberty to their first-ever franchise championship as a key contributor.
Now, she is a free agent — and could end up both returning to the Liberty or heading elsewhere ahead of the 2025 WNBA season.
Courtney Vandersloot played a reduced role in the 2024 WNBA playoffs
Vandersloot, a surefire Hall of Famer, moved to the bench in favor of standout rookie Leonie Fiebich in the postseason. In turn, her minutes reduced to a career-low 14 minutes per night in the postseason.
Vandersloot was praised for her professionalism throughout the transition — and whether the bench relegation will be a factor in determining whether or not she’s interested in re-sign in New York has not yet been determined.
Currently, she’s in Miami, where she’s one of 36 WNBA players participating in Unrivaled, the new 3-on-3 professional women’s basketball league tipping off on Jan. 17 on TNT.
What the Liberty guard had to say about WNBA free agency
Speaking with the media during an Unrivaled availability, the 35-year-old veteran gave an update on where she’s at with free agency, while noting that being in Miami for the new league could actually be advantageous when it came to her negotiations.
“Free agency is around the quarter, and I’ve been thinking about that for a few weeks now. It’s just about balancing – 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. I see free agents in the hallways. I think it’s a great place to be if you’re a free agent.”
Free agency negotiations begin on Jan. 21, just a few days after gameplay officially begins. Players can officially sign contracts on Feb. 1. So, Vandersloot will likely sign through the 2025 season while still in Miami for Unrivaled.
Vandersloot said that she planned on fully participating in the free agency process.
“I’m going to go through free agency and see the best situation for me and my family, but obviously, currently I feel like I’m part of the New York Liberty,” she said. “But I’m going to go through free agency and see what’s best for me.”
Vandersloot, who is second in the WNBA’s all-time assists leaderboard, might not be quite the same powerhouse she was in her prime — but she’s still an elite playmaker with veteran acumen who could elevate several WNBA teams lacking a primary playmaker.
When asked what she is looking for in her next contract, Vandersloot said that she wants to join a team that will compete for championships and one that will her to have the ball in her hands.
“I want to be valued, I want to be competitive – obviously, that’s why you come into this league, to compete for championships,” Vandersloot said. “A place that takes care of me, wants me to be there, sees what I can bring to the team. That’s most important. I want to have the ball in my hand, and to be able to create the way that I think that I can, and just be in a place that is comfortable for me and my family.”
Whether that best fit is the New York Liberty remains to be seen.
