The Liberty held a moment of silence before their game Thursday in memory of Courtney Vandersloot’s mother, Jan, who died over the weekend after a two-year battle with cancer.
Vandersloot, who didn’t play in the Liberty’s 93-80 win against the Sparks at Barclays Center, has missed the last six games due to personal reasons.
She approved the pregame tribute and message on the video board, which included photos of the Liberty guard and her mother, Breanna Stewart said.
“As much as we love basketball and we understand that it’s a business and it’s our job and everything, it kind of makes you put things into perspective and understand that there’s a lot of other things going on in life,” Jonquel Jones said.
Vandersloot opened up to ESPN last year about navigating Jan’s cancer diagnosis and, during a trip to the Hospital for Special Surgery’s Lerner Children’s Pavilion in March, said hospital visits are “close to home for me.”
The Liberty have dedicated games to Vandersloot during her time away from the team.
“Any time we come together, I think it just shows why we play and what’s really important in life,” Sabrina Ionescu said.
“Obviously, just wrapping our arms around her and her family in this time is important.”
