It has been two years since Chicago bid farewell to one of the biggest stars of the city, and looks like it’s time to erase the bitter memories. As the WNBA prepares for its exciting new season, one of the league’s most successful point guards gears up to make waves in an unexpected return. The countdown is on, and when free agency opens on Saturday, the fans will be in for a major delight. Angel Reese’s current Unrivaled teammate, though, is already savoring the hints. 

This court just pulled an ultimate “miss me yet?” and is right back where it all started! After her 2024 championship run with the New York Liberty, Courtney Vandersloot is returning to her former team. And she couldn’t have announced it better to stir the excitement. “Chicago Sky,” she added in her bio, which a few hawkeyed fans were quick to make note of. 

“Back like she never left,” Overtime WBB shared on Instagram. In the comments soon enough, was a former Sky star Angel Reese would have liked to hear the news about as well– Kahleah Copper. “Love, love, love this,” she wrote. 

Copper and Vandersloot repped the Windy City for 6 years together before the latter moved to New York Liberty in 2022. Copper would request a trade herself the following year to land with Pheonix Mercury. And she shined, no less. The star guard averaged 21 points and 4.5 rebounds to lead the team in scoring. She even had Reese chant, “Get Kah back! Get Kah back!” during the Unrivaled media event. But the transfer wasn’t as successful for Sloot.

The veteran guard came off the bench during the 2024 playoffs for the first time in her career and saw limited minutes. She’d later say she wants to join a team that valued her. Looks like the home of 12 years wasn’t going to be overlooked.

Although she has interest from the Golden State Valkyries and Seattle Storm, Vandersloot goes with her legacy. With four All-Star selections now, the pieces of the puzzle seem to fall into place for a reunion of that dream team. Reese‘s hustle to bring top talent back is not just talk; she is putting in work to make Chicago a problem in the WNBA.

The beginning of a new era with Angel Reese and Courtney

Vandersloot‘s return is coming at the right time for Chicago, which is on the point of transition as a franchise. Having gone 13-27 last season, the Sky will be led into the new campaign by new HC Tyler Marsh, who promised to play fast and unlock young stars, Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. Not to mention that Chicago still holds the No. 3 pick in April‘s draft to further reshape its future. 

Vandersloot was instrumental to the Sky in their 2014 WNBA Finals appearance, where she averaged 6.8 points and also led the league with 5.7 assists per game. Vandersloot’s personal best season to date was during the 2020 season, in which she accumulated  13.6 points and 10 assists per game; she led the league in assists for the fourth time in the process. 

Well, this time, it’s a whole new ball game. Instead of a legend, Parker, having her paint covered with dominance and strength, they have Sloot run the floor as they have added Angel Reese for their rising young star. Last season’s no. 7 pick in the WNBA 2024 Draft had an impact immediately in the rookie season, showing 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds game average while in the battle for Rookie of the Year honors with Indiana Fever’s own Caitlin Clark. 

Although an injury clipped Reese‘s season short, she is poised to return stronger in 2025 and now, she’ll get fed by one of the best pass-first point guards in WNBA history.