At the heart of a challenging Chicago Sky season, veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot found herself under the spotlight—not for orchestrating a clutch finish or her mastery of court vision or passing, but for simply responding to a question about her age with the kind of confidence that only a champion who’s broken ceilings can muster. When Angel Reese, the Sky’s young star, questioned whether the team “can’t rely on Courtney to come back at the age she’s at,” after Vandersloot’s devastating ACL injury, what followed wasn’t just a comeback comment—it was a statement of intent, an affirmation that age, for her, isn’t a limitation but a badge of experience, resilience, and purpose.
Reese’s comment, aimed at expressing frustration with roster reliability, fractured atmospheres already frayed by losses and injuries. She told the Chicago Tribune that the Sky needed “someone probably a little younger with some experience,” even if it meant replacing a legend sidelined by injury That remark struck a nerve. Courtney Vandersloot, a five-time All‑Star, two‑time WNBA champion, and franchise icon, had been the calming, commanding voice on the floor for years. And now, she was being questioned about her ability to return—not because she lacked skill, but because of something as superficial as her age.
Yet Vandersloot didn’t wilt. Instead, she leaned into it. She said simply, “Contrary to what people say or think, my age is actually not a factor. I am coming back. I’m going to come back better than ever, because that’s what I’ve done. I’ve put myself in the position to come back and compete, even at this age.” Her tone wasn’t defensive but determined, elegant in its assertion and grounded in accomplishment
To understand the gravity of that sentiment, it helps to take a step back and look at the true depth of Vandersloot’s career. At 36, she returned to Chicago for the 2025 season as a key veteran presence, not merely for her skills but for the leadership she brought to a young, rebuilding roster that included Reese, Kamilla Cardoso, and rookie Hailey Van Lith Her impact wasn’t just on stat sheets—though those tell a powerful story: second all-time in WNBA assists (2,886) and a top-20 in games played (436) )—but in setting the tone, guiding relationships, and embodying a winning culture. She is a first‑ballot Hall of Famer in waiting for good reason.
So when an injury that would sideline any athlete for an entire season struck—Vandersloot tore her ACL in early June, collapsing under the weight of expectations and then the weight of her body in one devastating moment—the team’s season, already faltering, suffered a blow well beyond the loss of minutes In her absence, the Sky’s offense struggled to find cohesion. The veteran presence she provided—on and off the court—left a void that was difficult to fill with the anticipated cohesion of rookies or second-year players.
Angel Reese, in her candid interviews and intense media presence, voiced frustration. The team held a lackluster record, and she saw a risk in leaning too heavily on an injured veteran whose return was uncertain. Her words, though maybe intended to be strategic, landed bluntly on public ears. And so the tension surfaced—not off the court alone, but at its very core, between leadership by experience and the energy and urgency of youth.
That tension gave Vandersloot’s response its weight. She didn’t just brush off the doubt—she rebutted it with conviction. “My age is not a factor,” she declared, speaking not from bravado but from a lifetime of proving herself. She had already come back from big challenges before, and she was prepared to do it again . For a Sky fan or a player, those words carry a kind of rallying cry: the idea that experience is not a crutch but a foundation on which to rebuild.
Yet the narrative was more complex than a simple veteran vs. rookie moment. Angel Reese, known for her energy, her record‑setting rookie year, and her unapologetic drive , issued an apology soon after, saying the “language was taken out of context,” and expressing regret if her words hurt her teammates. She clarified that her frustration was more internal—that she didn’t intend to bring her teammates down . The Sky’s front office responded too—with discipline, suspending Reese for a portion of a game for language deemed detrimental to the team’s unity
Amid this public friction, another voice spoke up: Allie Quigley, Vandersloot’s wife and a former Sky guard herself. She took to social media with a quiet but powerful reminder of V’s legacy—a subtle nudge to anyone doubting her comeback: “Friendly reminder…! Can’t wait for the comeback Mama!!!!!!!” She didn’t need to argue or chide—her confidence in Vandersloot’s ability spoke volumes.
Today, as the Sky’s 2025 season winds down with another missed playoff run, Vandersloot’s words remain. They hint at what could lie ahead: a return next season, a recalibrated offense, a renewed leadership core. And though the team’s record may not reflect the stability she once anchored, her presence still means something—perhaps more than ever. Because at 36, recovering from an ACL tear in one of the most demanding professional sports leagues, to say “age is not a factor” is more than a statement; it’s a testament.
In a league increasingly populated by young stars—Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese herself, and a new generation of explosive athletes—there’s a place for veteran grit. That grit looks like Courtney Vandersloot’s resolve, her belief that wisdom and craft outlast raw numbers. Yes, she’s approaching 37 (she’ll be that age before the 2026 season begins) but she is also still one of the best facilitators of success the Sky—or any team—could ask for. Her legacy isn’t just stats and championships; it’s in every pass, every confrontation turned into a comeback, and every moment when age didn’t define capability but underscored it.
Her comment, stripped of context, might read as defiance. But understood fully, it resonates as quiet confidence. To those who questioned her ability to return, she didn’t just promise it—she declared it. And perhaps, in that declaration, she offered the Sky something beyond a veteran starting back at point guard—she reminded them that resilience has no number, and comeback is not just a return, but a declaration of who you remain.
