Feb. 12--Tamera Young had offers from other WNBA teams, but what the unrestricted free agent wanted most was stability, which is why the versatile small forward agreed to a multi-year contract on Wednesday to stay with the Sky.
"Chicago is like home. I've been there the last six seasons of my career," said Young, speaking from Brazil, where she's playing for Recife. "I already know how coaches are, what to expect, what they expect from me. That was the main factor. I always want to be where I'm really wanted."
For the Sky, Young represents another piece of a young nucleus that reached the WNBA Finals last summer. On Tuesday, the Sky renewed the contract of playoffs assists leader Courtney Vandersloot.
Terms of both deals weren't disclosed.
Young praised the Sky for keeping Vandersloot in the fold. "'Sloot' is very key to the success we had in Chicago. Of course, after fighting to get to the Finals you want to bring back the key pieces," she said.
Sky head coach and general manager Pokey Chatman expressed similar feelings about Young in a team statement. "Tamera's blue-collar mentality, and ability to disrupt at multiple positions on the defensive end of the floor, creates opportunities vital to our success," Chatman said. "I am thrilled she has decided to continue her career representing the Chicago Sky."
Young started 33 games and grabbed 173 rebounds last season, both career highs. She averaged 6.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while playing shooting guard and both forward positions.
"I've been a versatile player all my life. That's always been a part of my game. But it's always what a coach wants, what a coach needs" that determines a player's role, she said.
plthompson@chicagotribune.com
