Players like Courtney Vandersloot come once in a generation. The New York Liberty Guard’s playmaking and picture-perfect passes through traffic are off the charts, landing her the famed nickname – “Floor General”. She stands second to Sue Bird in the all-time assists leaderboard, with over 2800 assists in her 14-year WNBA career. “I started to figure out [passing] was more natural for me than scoring,” she told ESPN in 2023. “I just find joy in creating shots for others.” She doubled down on her strengths and naturally, fame and wealth followed.

“Courtney Vandersloot is one of the best playmakers in the league,” Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said in June 2024. “(She) helps us with our pace, definitely, another handler for us.” Such has been Vandersloot’s impact. Even before her 12-year stint with the Chicago Sky ended in 2022, ex-teammate Candace Parker summed up the Gonzaga alum’s impact in three words. “Sloot is Chicago,” Parker said after game 2 of the 2022 WNBA semifinals.

Vandersloot was drafted 3rd overall in 2011 by the Sky, the team whose captain she became in the years to come. In 2015, the 5’8 point guard signed a 5-year, $557,500 extension with them, including an average salary of $111,500 (as per Sportrac). In those years, her game kept elevating, and she made the All-WNBA second team in 2015 and 2018, and the first team in 2019. Consequently, she landed a richer 2-year, $406,000 contract extension in 2020.

That year, she justified her pay by setting the single-game assists record with 18 against the Indiana Fever. Moreover, she led the Sky to their only WNBA championship in 2021. Naturally, in 2022, another 1-year extension followed, guaranteeing her $195,000. While her journey with the Chicago Sky ended when that concluded, her WNBA story didn’t end there.

Courtney Vandersloot’s New York Liberty contract & Mega ‘Unrivaled’ payout

The New York Liberty snapped Courtney Vandersloot up in 2023 with a generous 2-year, $383,670 contract. This promised her an average annual salary of $191,835 when the average pay for WNBA players was $147,745. In 2023, she hit the annual cap and earned $194,000. In 2024, the amount remained similar, earning her $194,670. This takes her career earnings to $1.352 million.

Vandersloot is the Liberty’s most experienced player. In 2023, she became only the second player in the league’s history to score 4000+ points with 2500+ assists. Though she will be a free agent come 2025, a big payout awaits her. The 4-time WNBA All-Star has signed up for the Unrivaled women’s basketball league founded by her teammate and 2023 MVP, Breanna Stewart. As per SBNation, the 3v3 league promises a minimum $150,000 salary plus player equity.

Unrivaled will commence its first season in January 2025 in Miami. Vandersloot is the oldest player of the 21 of 30 signed (as of 24th September 2024). This will be her first offseason playing in the USA, having played overseas otherwise. Looking at her performances, no one would ever guess she’s an introvert who likes to “avoid all encounters with people.” Yet, she is one of the greatest team players and point guards to ever play in the W.