Courtney Vandersloot believes the media is overemphasizing her new role coming off the bench for the New York Liberty.
She might be correct. Sandy Brondello replaced Vandersloot with rookie Leonie Fiebich in Game 1 of the WNBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Dream on Sunday — a game the Liberty won 83-69 — and it proved beneficial for New York.
Fiebich had a standout performance, scoring 21 points on an impressive 7-8 shooting night, including all four of her three-point attempts. She also set a WNBA playoff record for the most points in a first half without missing, tallying 15 points before halftime.
If this is the level of play Vandersloot’s replacement can deliver, the veteran point guard has no qualms about coming off the bench.
“Leo has stepped in and been huge for us with injuries and everything…you saw that right away,” Vandersloot noted. “She fits perfectly with that group.”
From Brondello’s viewpoint, this shift wasn’t about demoting Vandersloot but rather a strategic lineup decision to ensure there are always two ball-handlers on the floor. With the need to manage Betnijah Laney-Hamilton’s minutes post-knee surgery, Vandersloot can provide support while still complementing Sabrina Ionescu.
“Having the discussion, I had to trust Sloot was on board with [coming off the bench]. It helps us have our best lineups,” Brondello stated. “She wants to win, which shows her commitment to the team.”
Vandersloot shares this perspective, stating her mentality hasn’t changed as a bench player and recognizes the advantages of Brondello’s decision.
“When we start with our three guards, we have all our playmakers out there; it gets a bit uneven during rotations,” she explained. “Brondello wanted another playmaker off the bench.”
There are still adjustments needed.
“You’d like to think nothing changes, but the game’s flow is different when coming off the bench. It’s like a shock to the system,” she remarked. “People are already warmed up, and you’re not. But that’s part of the game.”
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