Sparks Sign Julie Vanloo After Sudden Release By Valkyries

The Los Angeles Sparks signed guard Julie Vanloo on June 3, per a release. The addition came just days after Vanloo and now-Sparks teammate Julie Allemand won their second consecutive FIBA EuroBasket crown in a 67-65 victory over Spain — cementing Belgium as just the third national team in history to defend a EuroBasket crown. Aside from the Cats' latest run, only Spain and the Soviet Union have secured back-to-back titles. Vanloo skipped the celebration in Belgium in order to make the journey back to San Francisco to rejoin the Golden State Valkyries — but was subsequently waived just an hour after her West Coast arrival. Fresh off a quartet of roster moves — waiving Shey Peddy and Odyssey Sims to make space for the respective returns of Allemand and Rae Burrell — the Sparks knew Vanloo could be another crucial backcourt piece. “When we heard that the Valkyries waived [Julie Vanloo], I immediately said to our GM, 'let's see if we can get her.' So, we signed her," head coach Lynne Roberts said. "We were hope