Nationality French Weight 84 kg Listed height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Name Sandrine Gruda Career start 2008 | Listed weight 185 lb (84 kg) Role Basketball player Parents Ulysse Gruda Pro career 2005–present Height 1.93 m | |
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WNBA draft 2007 / Round: 1 / Pick: 13th overall Olympic medals Basketball at the 2012 Summer Olympics- Women Similar People Celine Dumerc, Isabelle Yacoubou, Nwal‑Endene Miyem, Emilie Gomis, Edwige Lawson‑Wade Profiles | ||
Sandrine Gruda All 16 Points vs USK Praha
Sandrine Gruda (born June 25, 1987) is a French professional basketball player who is currently plays for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Her primary position is center.
Contents
- Sandrine Gruda All 16 Points vs USK Praha
- Preparation physique basket preparation physique camp best basket sandrine gruda
- Before the WNBA
- WNBA career
- Overseas career
- National team
- References
Preparation physique basket preparation physique camp best basket sandrine gruda
Before the WNBA
She is the daughter of Ulysse Gruda, who played for the French men's national basketball team, and grew up on Martinique. Before joining the WNBA, Gruda played professionally for the French club Union Sportive Valenciennes Olympic. She began playing on senior level in 2002, and professionally in 2005. She was voted the best European young women's player of the year 2006.
WNBA career
Gruda was drafted 13th overall in the 2007 WNBA Draft by the Connecticut Sun. She did not join the Sun until the 2008 season. She was highly touted by head coach Mike Thibault before joining the team. During her rookie season, she provided solid bench play and with her height and length, was a consistent rebounder and shot-blocker.
In 2014, she returned to the WNBA after a three-year absence, joining the Los Angeles Sparks as a reserve on the roster. Gruda sat out the 2015 season to prepare for the 2016 Summer Olympics with the France women's national basketball team in the qualifying tournament. In 2016, Gruda re-signed with the Sparks after the Olympic break. Later on in the season, Gruda would win her first WNBA championship with the Sparks after they defeated the Minnesota Lynx 3-2 in the Finals. Following the championship victory, after not being re-signed during free agency, Gruda returned to the Sparks midway through the 2017 season. The Sparks would go on to advance to the Finals for the second season in a row, after defeating the Phoenix Mercury in a 3-game sweep, setting up a rematch with the Lynx.
Overseas career
She played for the Russian club UMMC Ekaterinburg from 2007 to 2016. On July 6, 2016, Fenerbahçe Istanbul announced her transfer to the club.
National team
Gruda is the starting center for the France women's national basketball team, and led her team to the EuroBasket 2009 title. She was the best scorer and rebounder of the French side, and was voted to the all-tournament team. She also took part in the World Championship 2006 and the EuroBasket 2007, reaching the quarter-finals both times.
