Last season, the Chicago Sky brought back Courtney Vandersloot, a player who previously spent 12 seasons with the franchise from 2011 to 2022. And according to Sky head coach Tyler Marsh, there was still unfinished business behind that return. “She’s done a lot. But, there’s still more to give, and there’s still more that she wants to give and wants to do in a Sky uniform, and that’s why she came back,” Marsh said.

Part of what she has now given this Sky team is the impact she has had on the roster rebuild, especially after a star like Angel Reese departed the franchise. According to Marsh, “When you think about how the roster has kind of taken shape since she’s been here throughout this offseason, they wouldn’t be here if they didn’t want to be part of that as well, if they didn’t want to play with Sloot.” For Marsh, having Vandersloot on the team clearly played a role in drawing in several of the players Chicago brought in ahead of the new season.

And of course, the Sky has not exactly been one of the most attractive destinations in the WNBA with three consecutive losing seasons. Losing Reese on top of that did not exactly make the situation look more appealing either. But with Courtney Vandersloot still around, Chicago still has a superstar as far as Marsh is concerned. In fact, when asked about where she stands in franchise history, Marsh said, “She doesn’t have to play another game with the Sky for her place in Sky basketball history to be etched in stone. That’s what she means to the city, that’s what she means to the organization.”

Vandersloot, who is a two-time WNBA champion, won her first championship with the Sky back in 2021. That title also remains the first and only championship in franchise history. And she was a key part of it. She averaged 12.5 assists and 11.5 points per game during the Finals series against the Phoenix Mercury in 2021. In fact, she still holds nearly every major franchise record for Chicago, including total points, assists, steals, and games played.

Tyler Marsh Believes Courtney Vandersloot Will Come Back Stronger From Injury

For Marsh, “if there’s anybody that can figure it out, it’s Courtney Vandersloot.” In fact, he believes that “There’s a level of professionalism, there’s a level of experience and IQ that comes with her and how she plays the position.”

But beyond simply getting back to playing on the court, Marsh also believes Vandersloot’s leadership can be a major benefit to the team. “I think the pieces that we brought in, whether it’s Tash, whether it’s Sky, whether it’s DiJonai, what have you, they’re players that can feed off of her leadership, and the way that she’s able to set the table for others,” Marsh said.

Earlier this month, Jeff Pagliocca noted that Vandersloot is “progressing well” and that her overall physical rehab remains completely “on track.” The anticipation surrounding her return is naturally high among Sky fans. But perhaps, it is even higher for Coach Marsh.

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