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Former Gonzaga guard Courtney Vandersloot selected to All-WNBA second team, Storm’s Breanna Stewart named to first team

In this July 18, 2017 file photo, Chicago Sky’s Courtney Vandersloot in action against the Seattle Storm in a WNBA basketball game in Seattle. (Elaine Thompson / Associated Press)
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In this July 18, 2017 file photo, Chicago Sky’s Courtney Vandersloot in action against the Seattle Storm in a WNBA basketball game in Seattle. (Elaine Thompson / Associated Press)

NEW YORK – For the second time in her career, former Gonzaga guard Courtney Vandersloot picked up All-WNBA Second Team honors.

The WNBA announced the selections based on voting by a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters on Wednesday.

This season, Vandersloot, an eight-year veteran, set WNBA records for assists per game (8.6) and total assists (258) while averaging a career-high 12.5 points per game for the Chicago Sky. She finished the season averaging 1.5 assists more per game than the next closest player (Sue Bird, 7.1 apg.), and recorded double-figure assists on 10 occasions including a career-high 15 assists twice.

Vandersloot finished the 2018 season with eight double-doubles and became just the seventh player in WNBA history to record a triple-double with 13 points, 10 rebounds and a career-best 15 assists against the Dallas Wings on July 20.

The Kent, Washington, native was joined on the All-WNBA Second Team by Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks), Skylar Diggins-Smith (Dallas Wings), Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx) and Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury).

WNBA Most Valuable Player Breanna Stewart of the Seattle Storm was unanimously selected to the 2018 All-WNBA First Team. The 6-4 forward was the only player named to the First Team on all 39 ballots.

Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi was voted to the All-WNBA First Team for the 10th time, extending her WNBA record for First Team selections. She also earned her 13th selection to the All-WNBA First Team or Second Team, passing Tamika Catchings and Lisa Leslie (12 each) for the most in league history.

Joining Stewart (195 points) and Taurasi (179) on the All-WNBA First Team are Dallas Wings center Liz Cambage (190), Washington Mystics forward Elena Delle Donne (184) and Atlanta Dream guard Tiffany Hayes (138). This marks the first All-WNBA nods for Cambage and Hayes.

Vandersloot became the first Bulldog in program history to be drafted in the first round of the 2011 WNBA Draft as she was the third overall pick, taken by the Chicago Sky.

During her Gonzaga career from 2007-11, Vandersloot was a three-time West Coast Conference Player of the Year, and she was also named to the Associated Press All-America Team second-team, the State Farm Coaches’ All-America Basketball team and was USBWA All-America. She was also the Nancy Lieberman Award winner as the top point guard in the nation as well as the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award Winner.