While Courtney Vandersloot’s first love was basketball, she understands the need to be connected with family. “It is pretty crazy,” she said. “There are times when I question why I’m away from my family for so long.” Courtney proceeded to answer her own question: She loves the game too much to slow down. Having described her WNBA dreams in a third-grade paper, the performances that scintillate us today have been in the making for over three decades now. “This is what I worked really hard for when I was younger,” said the Sky star, who’s played the game nonstop since her dad set up a hoop in their home in Renton, Washington.
Now playing as a veteran in the league, Courtney expressed she’s learning to be more disciplined in disconnecting from the sport. For which, there is nothing better equipped than family. “Just being able to take a day to just do things that you enjoy, spend time with your family,” she said. “I lean on Allie, my wife, a lot.” As Vandersloot’s environment helps keep the flame within her alive, lets find out where it all began.
Where is Courtney Vandersloot from? What is her nationality?
Courtney hails from Kent, Washington, and was born there. She attended Kentwood High School, where she received numerous accolades, such as the Seattle Times 2007 State Player of the Year. Her performances at Kentwood later earned her a recruiting offer from Gonzaga, where she played for 4 years.
She holds a dual nationality and is a citizen of both the USA and Hungary. Shortly after wrapping up a brilliant collegiate career at Gonzaga in 2011, Courtney Vandersloot received an invitation to the U.S. national team training camp in Las Vegas. Four years later, she would don the U.S. uniform for a four-game European tour, and in 2016, she was a finalist at training for the Olympics in Rio but missed out on the squad.
Sep 29, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New York Liberty guard Courtney Vandersloot (22) warms up prior to the game one of the 2024 WNBA Semi-finals against the Las Vegas Aces at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
After Vandersloot didn’t make the roster for the U.S. in 2016, the Chicago Sky point guard made the difficult decision to bid adieu to her goal of playing for the U.S. at the 2020 Olympics, as she agreed to play for Hungary’s national team. Courtney became a Hungarian citizen in November 2016.
What is Courtney Vandersloot’s ethnicity?
While there are no reports confirming Courtney Vandersloot’s ethnicity, information around her last name provides room to speculate. According to Ancestry.com, the name Van Der Sloot is of Dutch origin and literally means ‘by the sloot’. Sloot means a draining channel in Dutch, indicating it is a topographic name.
Courtney’s last name, however, is Vandersloot, which is a variant of the name that occurs in the United States. The last name is borne by more people in the United States than in any other country or territory, as per Forebears.
Is Courtney Vandersloot Christian?
There are no explicit statements that confirm Courtney’s faith and religious beliefs. However, she attended Gonzaga, which is a Jesuit Catholic university located in Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga is part of the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits, which is a Roman Catholic religious order. Yet, there is no confirmation of it being the religion she practices.
Her partner, Allie Quigley, though, has described herself as Catholic and has spoken about the positive influence of her Catholic education. She attended Catholic schools from third grade through college, including Joliet Catholic Academy and DePaul University. She credits the smaller atmosphere and family-oriented nature of these schools with creating many great memories for her. But it is still not known if her partner’s religious beliefs have any such influence over Courtney.
The one thing that’s for sure? Courtney is against religious discrimination. In 2017, Athlete Ally, in partnership with Shizanan, published an open letter calling on FIBA to overturn its discriminatory ban on headgear, which includes the hijab worn by observant Muslim athletes. The open letter was been signed by over 30 athletes, one of them being Vandersloot. “Today, we stand with Muslim athletes around the world,” said Hudson Taylor, executive director of Athlete Ally. “Athletes shouldn’t have to choose between their religion and the sport that they love, and by overturning this ban, we’re providing greater access to Muslim women and girls everywhere.”
Courtney Vandersloot’s journey reflects not only her deep commitment to basketball but also her evolving appreciation for balance, identity, and advocacy. Her story continues to inspire both on and off the court.
The post What Is Courtney Vandersloot’s Ethnicity, Religion and Nationality? Exploring Her Family Roots and Background appeared first on EssentiallySports.
