Guard Courtney Vandersloot was the second New York Liberty star this week to return to face her former team for the first time on the road, as forward Breanna Stewart did against the Seattle Storm on Tuesday.
In both cases, the Liberty came away with victories.
Vandersloot, who played 12 seasons for the Chicago Sky and won the league title with them in 2021, had eight points and eight assists Friday night as the Liberty edged the Sky 77-76 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.
“It’s really hard to put into words, it’s surreal. It did feel weird,” Vandersloot said. “I spent so much time here, had so many memories here. I have a lot of experience in this league, and this is something I do not have experience with.”
Vandersloot, drafted No. 3 by the Sky in 2011, moved to New York as a free agent in the offseason, as did Stewart, who was picked No. 1 by Seattle in 2016. The Liberty’s other key acquisition, forward Jonquel Jones, came to the Liberty via trade after six seasons with the Connecticut Sun.
Jones faced her former team in last Saturday’s…
