Julie Vanloo Signed by Los Angeles Sparks After Triumphing at EuroBasket
The prominent point guard Julie Vanloo has been acquired by the Los Angeles Sparks, as announced by the organization this Thursday. This signing comes after Vanloo’s victory in the EuroBasket championship with Belgium last Sunday in Greece. After his return from Europe to San Francisco, Vanloo was met with the news of his release by the Golden State Valkyries on Tuesday. Now, he joins the Sparks in New York for Thursday’s game against the Liberty. Vanloo, 32, has been a key figure in the Belgian national team since 2009 and has participated in two Olympic Games. She debuted in the WNBA last season with the Washington Mystics. In the expansion draft, she was selected by the Valkyries, where she averaged 4.1 points and 4.9 assists in nine games. Golden State’s decision to waive Vanloo was described by coach Natalie Nakase as necessary, but “heartbreaking.” The team also had to waive Bree Hall and Chloe Bibby to allow the return of Janelle Salaun and Cecilia Zandalasini, who returned from the EuroBasket.Vanloo now joins her Belgian teammate Julie Allemand on the Sparks. Allemand is in her first season with Los Angeles, after having played with the Indiana Fever in 2020 and Chicago Sky in 2022, and returning to the WNBA this year. The Sparks cut veteran guard Odyssey Sims on Tuesday. It is expected that another member of the Belgian national team, forward Emma Meesseman, will soon return to the WNBA. Meesseman played seven seasons with the Mystics and was the MVP of the WNBA Finals in 2019. Her last participation in the WNBA was in 2022 with the Sky. Meesseman was the EuroBasket MVP, averaging 19.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.8 blocks.Literally, I just landed. I need time to process all of this and put my feelings into words. Right now, I can’t.
Julie Vanloo
