Belgium's Julie Vanloo picked up by LA Sparks after release from previous team
Belgian basketball player Julie Vanloo has been picked up by the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA after she was let go by the Golden State Valkyries. Vanloo had skipped the celebrations of the Belgian Cats' European Championship title in order to return to the Valkyries as quickly as possible.
The Cats defended their European title in Greece on Sunday with a nail-biting victory in the final against Spain, after which they were honoured in Brussels on Monday evening. The team was first welcomed by King Philippe at the Castle of Laeken and later they greeted their fans on the Grand Place from the balcony of Brussels city hall.
However, Vanloo missed the celebrations because she had rushed to catch a plane to the US after the final to return to her WNBA team, the Golden State Valkyries in San Francisco. Once there, however, she was told that the Valkyries no longer needed her. Vanloo had left the team to play in the European Championships against the club's wishes.
The way Vanloo was treated caused a stir in the media and led to indignation from Belgian fans. The player herself was also very disappointed.
“Two days ago, I became a European Champion. 24 hours later, I was waived by the Valkyries,” Vanloo wrote on Instagram. "After traveling 18 hours back to the Bay, I missed the fan ceremony and the chance to share that special medal moment with my family and friends."
Speaking of the club's decision to release her, she said: "Honestly, that stung. I understand it's business, but nothing prepares you for the loneliness that comes with getting cut. It feels like the whole world suddenly crashes on your shoulders."
Happy ending
However, on Thursday evening, there was good news for Vanloo. The 32-year-old point guard was picked up by the Los Angeles Sparks, where she joins fellow Cat Julie Allemand. Things moved quickly, as she played on Thursday night against defending champions New York Liberty. She entered the court at the start of the second quarter and played for over two minutes. The LA Sparks lost the match 89-79.
Vanloo made her WNBA debut for the Washington Mystics last year. Her debut for the LA Sparks was her 50th game in the WNBA. In Europe, she played for Galatasaray for the past two seasons.
#FlandersNewsService | Julie Vanloo in action for the Los Angeles Sparks © PHOTO SARAH STIER / GETTY IMAGES / AFP
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