Courtney Vandersloot is back on the court, tearing it up after a torn ACL, and the way she’s playing is getting everyone talking about her place in WNBA history. We’re talking about a point guard who, for years, has been whispered in the same breath as our very own legend, Sue Bird. And when you look at the stats, those whispers turn into a full-on roar.
The Assist Queen’s Crown Still Shines
Let’s just get into it: Ticha Penicheiro, one of the all-time greats, knew it. She said if anyone was gonna break her single-game assist record, it would be Sloot. And she did! Vandersloot dropped 18 dimes on August 31, 2020, blowing past Penicheiro’s 16. Sure, Caitlin Clark set the current record with 19 in 2024, but before Clark, Sloot set the standard for assists per game with 6.6, compared to Bird’s 5.6. She’s got two games with 18 assists, including one in the playoffs, while Bird’s career high is 16. Sloot also boasts nine games of 15 or more assists, and Bird has just one. It’s undeniable: Vandersloot is the queen of assists. She’s the first, and still only, player to average double-digit dimes in a season. Bird might have played longer, but the numbers for pure passing? They scream Sloot’s name.
A Tough Road Back: Chasing Bird’s Late-Career Magic
But here’s the kicker: Vandersloot is 37 now, coming back from that torn ACL, and she’s averaging 8.1 points and 4.1 helpers across 17.5 minutes in eight games so far. It’s a tough grind to get back to that superstar level, especially after an “off year” with the New York Liberty where she put up a career-low 6.4 points and shot a measly 26.9 percent from deep, excluding her 21.7 percent on 23 attempts right before the injury. Bird, on the other hand, was still dropping 5.6 assists and 9 points at ages 39 to 41, hitting 41.4 percent from three. That’s an insanely high bar to clear. Sloot is back with the Chicago Sky now, and head coach Tyler Marsh has her in the starting lineup “for now.” The question is, can she reignite that magic and remain a positive contributor, or even a star?
It’s going to be a fascinating journey to watch if Vandersloot can keep pushing her own legacy further. This season is huge for her, trying to prove she’s still one of the best on the court. Meanwhile, our Seattle Storm just came up short in a nail-biter, losing 107-110 to the Indiana Fever. We know our Storm will bounce back, but what Courtney Vandersloot does next will be a story for the history books, right alongside Bird’s incredible career.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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