“The Best There is!!!” That’s what Courtney Vandersloot wrote regarding her wife, Allie Quigley. The journey of the VanderQuigs began with the Chicago Sky, and the two have been inseparable ever since. As the most adorable basketball couple in the league, the two have often complemented each other on the hardwood and social media. Remember the time when Quigley praised her wife as Vandersloot, the highest scorer in the franchise? That is just one of many examples.

So, when the 38-year-old athlete announced her retirement on the players’ tribune a few hours ago, her wife was one of the first people to repost the news on Instagram. Moreover, Quigley penned a heartfelt goodbye for her fans, friends, and well-wishers acquainted with her and the W. “By 2021, I knew I was close to retirement.” Quigely initially wished to retire by 2021. Unfortunately, she chose to stay with the title-winning roster before choosing to sit out next season.

Moreover, The Player’s Tribune took to social media and shared a carousal of Quigley’s photographs, officially announcing her retirement. Calling it quits on Tuesday, the account quoted the 14-season veteran in the caption that read, “I love knowing that these next generations of players are just going to get to play in better and better and better versions of the W.” While her Irish goodbye comes as a bitter-sweet news for fans and everyone involved in the W, let us try and reason why she decided to take the big step.

Though she did not officially announce her retirement until recently, Quigley had taken a step back from the league in 2022. She had not been playing with the Sky, probably due to age factors. We must understand that the athlete is in her late thirties, and the decision can stem from factors including age and more time to spend with her family.

Having said that, it is possible that Quigley wished to look after and expand her family. The couple recently became parents. They have a daughter named Jana Christine Vandersloot Quigley who was born on April 08, 2025. And the decision was only natural, considering challenges of managing a toddler while travelling with the team and spending considerable time on the courts.

But the time of the retirement leads us to question whether Quigley took the leap after Vandersloot’s massive injury? Courtney suffered an ACL tear during Chicago Sky’s face-off against Indiana Fever on Saturday. While the veteran has been sidelined for the remainder of the season, owing to her impending injury, was Quigley’s decision influenced by this? Guess we’ll never know.

While there are endless possibilities to debate on why Quigley decided to retire, one thing is certain. She will get to spend more time with her family. She can look after the couple’s daughter and help Vandersloot recover. And while she prioritizes her family over the league, what will be the fate of Chicago Sky now, with two of the best players gone. At once. That remains to be seen.

Courtney Vandersloot surpasses wife’s highest score this season

The VanderQuigs had made history as the league’s first married couple in history to win a championship together. And this did not stop the two athletes from making individual records in the W. But the latest record-breaker from Vandersloot quickly became a family moment.

The 36-year-old Sky veteran surpassed her wife, Allie Quigley to became the All-time leading scorer for Chicago Sky.”I try not to get attached to individual records — because records are meant to be broken, and this one will be at some point,” Courtney Vandersloot said. “But for me to pass my wife, I think it speaks (to) our commitment together to this franchise. She’s a scorer and deserves this record, but I think she’s going to let me hold onto it for a while. We’ll be a one-two punch for a while.”

Vandersloot made history when she dished a total of 3,728 points for the franchise. When the score happened in the game against Dallas Wings earlier this year, the guard immediately turned to the stands to blew a flying kiss to the proud wife. On the other hand, an elated Quigley was seen capturing  the moment on her phone as the court echoed with chants of Vandersloot.

The veteran had averaged 10.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists from Chicago Sky before she was sidelined this season. With Vandersloot out for the season, will Rebecca Allen guide Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso as the roster looks for a respite in the upcoming matches? With Reese and Cardoso cracking under pressure this season, can we see strong performances from Tyler Marsh’s locker room as the games progress? Or is the team headed towards impending doom? We’ll have to wait to find out!