“Because she’s a huge part of this team, and we can’t wait for her to come back,” Sabrina Ionescu just might have won everyone’s heart with these words for her teammate Courtney Vandersloot. Everyone has missed the veteran guard of the New York Liberty in the last 6 games as she catered to her mother. Sadly, Jan Vandersloot passed away over the weekend after battling with advanced multiple myeloma for two years. Now as the 35-year-old hooper takes her time to overcome the challenging phase, everyone in the team stands by her side.

After an 80-93 win at home, the X account of the New York Liberty Videos posted a clip from the postgame presser. Therein, Sabrina Ionescu expressed her thoughts on her teammate as she struggles through the rocky times. She said, “We know how much she wants to be here and be able to play for us, and so we’re wanting to do our best to play for her,” emphasizing that Vandersloot remains a crucial part of the team.

The 2023 WNBA Three-Point Shootout champion also went on to ensure that the team resonates with the emotions.“We’ve been playing for her for a lot of our games now, and obviously she’s a big part of our team. Anytime we come together, I think it just shows why we play and what’s really important in life, and obviously just wrapping our arms around her and her family in this time is important.”

Jan Vandersloot had been a huge basketball junkie and an even bigger fan of the 35-year-old guard. When Courtney learned about her mother’s condition back in 2022 summer, she’d contemplated signing with the Liberty. But it was her mother, Vandersloot reveals, was her rock. Her positivity gave her the strength to keep going. She juggled between her games and flying to Washington at every given opportunity for two years. It was only early in May that the guard came to miss her games.

The team at Liberty has been solid since then, lending their support and acknowledging her situation. “We are all in this together,” HC Sandy Beondello had remarked. And before the game tonight, the Liberty held a moment of silence, honoring the life and fight of Jan Vandersloot.

Subsequently, the sold-out Barclays Center with 10,955 spectators roared with the chants of “Sloot, Sloot!” Apart from tonight’s stat leader, more members of the New York family had words for Vandersloot.

Sabrina Ionescu and the Liberty give another example of leading as a team

In the postgame press conference, Jonquel Jones, who is having an MVP-like season, also spoke up on the No. 22’s absence. She said, “Ultimately, we want to support her.” Jones pointed out that through the organization, the fans, and the way the team wins, they will ensure the same. The forward added, “It’s us going out there and playing hard to make sure that she comes back, and she feels like she can take how much every time she needs to get back to her full self.” She also brought back the unmatchable camaraderie between the Liberty players saying, “I think it’s just goes to show that we’re a family.”

Brondello also spoke on the same, praising Vandersloot for being one of the best playmakers in the league. Before tonight’s game, Sabrina Ionescu’s coach also said that the point guard aids the team through her ball handling and pace.

The talented Gonzaga alum has only appeared in nine games for the Liberty this season, missing six games. So far, she has averaged 7.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. She also began this season with the all-time second-highest assists in the WNBA. While the status of her return is still mentioned as day-to-day, her presence on the floor will certainly be a great boost for Sabrina Ionescu and her team.

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