Liberty starting guard Courtney Vandersloot missed Friday’s game against the Washington Mystics because of a back strain. The 35-year-old was added to the injury report late. She looked fine after playing 26 minutes in Wednesday’s win over the Mercury, but her head coach opted to sit the veteran with a busy schedule ahead, including crucial Commissioner’s Cup matches.
“We have a crazy schedule coming up, especially with the Commissioner’s Cup, so it was a smarter thing to not push it tonight,” head coach Sandy Brondello said before Friday’s game against the Mystics. “When Courtney is on the field, she will give 150 percent. So just be careful.
The head coach assured that the back injury was not a long-term problem.
“She should be back by the next game,” she said.
Vandersloot’s day off comes before the team plays five straight Commissioner’s Cup games, starting Sunday against the Indiana Fever at Barclays Center. After Sunday’s game, the Libs will embark on a three-game road trip, starting with the Chicago Sky on Tuesday. They will then travel to Atlanta to face the Dream on Thursday and finish the trip against the Connecticut Sun next Saturday.
Brondello’s team will return home to host the Mystics for Game 5 of the Commissioners Cup on June 9.
Including Friday’s game against the Mystics, the Liberty will play six games in 10 days. The reigning Commissioners Cup champions look to retain their crown, but will have to begin their quest against a team that has already beaten them on their home turf (Sky) and a team that entered Friday as the only undefeated team in the WNBA (Sun ). .
WITHOUT EQUAL
Unparalleled, Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier’s new 3-on-3 basketball league announced a one-month official launch Thursday after much anticipation. The league is set to pay athletes a six-figure minimum salary and promises the highest average salary in American women’s professional sports when it begins.
On Friday, Stewart spoke about the importance of securing a big payday for the women who will participate.
“I think we want the first year to be a success,” Stewart said. “And to be able to be sure that we’re starting big and it’s only going to get bigger, that’s a big deal. Having the highest average salary ever recorded in the history of women’s sports is huge.
The 30 players who will participate in the first year of the new league will have an equity stake in the company. The lists will be announced at a later date, but Stewart revealed what her argument is for fellow star Sabrina Ionescu to join the top 30.
“I’m (just) going to keep telling Sab to come over,” Stewart said with a smile.
