Former Kentwood basketball standout Vandersloot fights through ankle injuries

By Chris Chancellor

cchancellor@auburn-reporter.com

Courtney Vandersloot’s return to the Puget Sound region has a much different feel than last season.

When the Kentwood High graduate and Chicago Sky point guard last played the Seattle Storm, Vandersloot was having the best season of her WNBA career, and her team was viewed as a championship contender.

What a difference a year makes.

The 27-year-old former Gonzaga University standout has been limited by reoccurring right ankle issues this season. She most recently left with an ankle injury with 6 minutes, 57 seconds remaining in the first quarter July 5 at Minnesota. Vandersloot returned to play 10 minutes in a 88-85 loss July 8 against New York.

“It’s been kind of a reoccurring ankle issue at this point,” said Vandersloot, who averaged career-bests in points (11.4), rebounds (3.4) and assists (5.8) per game in 2015. “It’s been hard, obviously, to stay in rhythm and try and get healthy during the middle of the season.”

This is the first time the 5-foot-8 Vandersloot has experienced much adversity. She was the third overall selection of the 2011 draft and helped guide the Sky to their first WNBA Finals appearance in 2014. Last year, Chicago finished with its second-best record (21-13) in franchise history.

But through last Saturday, the Sky’s 7-11 record was the second-worst mark in the Eastern Conference. And Vandersloot’s averages in points (7.4) and assists (4.5) both have decreased this season.

“It’s been a struggle at times,” Vandersloot said. “But we’re really confident with what we have. We don’t think our record is a good indication of how good of a team we are. We think we’re way better than our record shows.”

But she also recognizes time is running out to show that. The WNBA regular-season schedule runs through Sept. 18 as play halts for more than a month in July and August to accommodate the league’s athletes competing in the Olympics. But after Sunday’s game against Seattle at KeyArena, Chicago only has 12 games remaining.

And the struggling Storm might present an opportunity for the Sky. Vandersloot knows beating Seattle won’t be easy, though.

“I’ve watched Seattle a couple of times, and they are in a transition period,” she said. “I think they are probably one of the best transition period teams I’ve seen. They’re young and they’ve got a lot of talent on that team.”

Playing the Storm also presents an opportunity to compete against guard Sue Bird, a player Vandersloot watched often when she was a teenager.

“It’s always a challenge,” said Vandersloot, referring to playing against Bird. “She’s one of the best for good reason. She’s playing really well right now. I think some people kind of counted her out, but I think she’s reopening some peoples’ eyes. I really look up to her. I respect her game.”

Now high school girls basketball players in the region have a couple of local products to watch in Vandersloot and Tacoma’s Alex Montgomery, who plays for San Antonio.

“I always try and keep tabs on players coming out of that area,” said Vandersloot, mentioning Bellevue High graduate Anna Wilson, the younger sister of the Seahawks’ quarterback, headed to Stanford University.

Much of Vandersloot’s family has returned home to Montana – her father was an engineer at Boeing before his retirement – but she still thinks of the Puget Sound area as home.

She began playing basketball as a kindergartner and enjoyed the experience so much that her father built a basketball court in the backyard. Along the way, Vandersloot made many friends in the game, and she enjoys the opportunity to reconnect with them when she plays in Seattle.

“Every time I come back more people surprise me,” she said. “It’s one of my favorite trips for sure.”

And this won’t be her only opportunity to visit. The Sky close out the regular season at Seattle. Chicago also hosts the Storm on Sept. 2.

“It’s kind of an up game for me,” Vandersloot said. “That’s always a fun one against Seattle.”