SPORTS | GOLDEN STATE VALKYRIES
Valkyries cut player moments after arriving at SFO on 18-hour flight
Julie Vanloo had been in Europe, winning an international tournament for her country

By Alex Simon,
Sports Editor
June 30, 2025


Golden State Valkyries guard Julie Vanloo celebrates after scoring against the Los Angeles Sparks in San Francisco, Friday, May 16, 2025.
Jeff Chiu/AP

When the Golden State Valkyries filled their inaugural roster with Europeans, they knew they would lose several players to an international tournament for multiple weeks in June and need replacements. But now that EuroBasket is over, a torrid stretch without those players has led the Valkyries to make some stunning — and apparently abrupt — roster decisions.

The Valkyries announced they had waived Belgian guard Julie Vanloo on Monday afternoon, one day after Vanloo helped her country win the EuroBasket championship near Athens, Greece. The fiery sharpshooter was named to the all-tournament second team after tallying 9.8 points, 5.3 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game in 30.2 minutes of action.

Vanloo skipped celebrations back in Belgium to return to the Bay Area and the Valkyries, posting on her Instagram story from the Athens airport at 5:19 a.m. local time — or 7:19 p.m. in San Francisco. Eighteen hours later, she was back in “Fog City” and drew a heart over Chase Center in two posts. Shortly after, she shared the news she’d been cut and her immediate reaction.

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