In the WNBA on Friday (American time), a matchup took place between the Belgian players: the Golden State Valkyries, featuring Julie Vanloo and Kyara Linskens, against the Los Angeles Sparks, including Julie Allemand. Despite playing at home, the Sparks lost the game with a score of 73-82.
Julie Allemand, who has recently recovered from a meniscus surgery, saw over 16 minutes of playtime (16:25) at the Crypto.com Arena. She scored three points, grabbed two rebounds, and provided two assists. Her teammate Dearica Hamby was the standout performer of the night, scoring 25 points, but it wasn’t enough to secure a victory at home against the Valkyries. Vanloo played for 16 minutes and 41 seconds but did not register any points despite four shot attempts. She did, however, contribute with two assists. Linskens had a playtime of 13:10, scoring two points, collecting three rebounds, and handing out one assist.
Remarkably, the two teams had faced off the previous weekend on the first game day, where the Sparks—playing without the recovering Allemand—achieved victory with a score of 67-84.
Currently, the Golden State Valkyries are positioned fifth in the standings with two wins and one loss, while the Los Angeles Sparks are in tenth place with one win out of four games in the league.
It remains uncertain whether Allemand and Vanloo will join the Belgian Cats, who are gearing up to compete for the European title. The Belgian Cats are set to play their first match of the European Championship against Portugal on June 19. In contrast, Kyara Linskens has announced her decision not to participate in the European Championship as she opts to focus on her debut season in the WNBA.
This matchup highlights the potential impact of European talent in the WNBA while also pointing to the future of international competition with the upcoming EuroBasket. It’s a pivotal time for these athletes as they navigate their careers in both domestic leagues and international play, showcasing their skills and contributing to the growing popularity of women’s basketball.