At long last, French champion Janelle Salaün is set to make her debut with the Golden State Valkyries — or that's what it sounds like. Salaün, who was recently named the Finals MVP in the Italian Beretta Familia Schio league, was signed to a training camp contract with Golden State in February but didn't arrive in the US until Thursday, May 15. She didn't play in the team's home opener against the Los Angeles Sparks, which prompted many to wonder when she will hit the court.
On May 20 the Associated Press reported Salaün "hopes" to play in the team's game against the Washington Mystics on Wednesday, May 21. The young star told the outlet that adjusting to the WNBA has been a challenge, but it's one she is more than prepared to meet.
"I need to adjust quickly and that’s the most challenging part for me but we are Day 2 and I feel much better," she explained. "People are great here and helped me a lot. Everybody is trying to give me the rhythm and and I’m really grateful for that. I appreciate everyone here — coaches, players, everyone is trying to help me."
Janelle Salaün already knows what it takes to win
Salaün is a member of the French National Team and was on the squad during the team's silver medal finish at the Paris Olympic Games last year. She's a key member of the French squad and was a starter throughout the team's Olympic run.
Like a lot of her European counterparts, Salaün has been playing professional basketball for several years. She signed her first contract with Flammes Carlo in 2018 — when she was 17. She joined Villeneuve-d'Ascq the following season (the same team that Domonique Malonga, this year's No. 2 overall draft pick, played for).
She also told the AP that her Italian team has a lot in common with Golden State, particuarly in terms of style of play. Both teams are fast, Salaün explained, which has helped her transition from one scheme to another. She also said her physicality will be something that translates from Europe to the US the easiest. "Little things really, but it’s still basketball. I’m still playing with great players, so not much differences but more like things that look alike," she said.
It's unclear how EuroBasket will impact Salaün's role on the Valkyries
Of course, there's a big question hanging over the heads of the entire Valkyries organization: will some players depart for two weeks to compete in the 2025 EuroBasket Tournament, or will they opt to stay in the States and play in the WNBA?
Some, like Salaün's French teammate Carla Leite and Belgian teammate Kyara Linskens, have already said they plan to forgo EuroBasket this year. Others, like Belgian Julie Vanloo, have been open about not being quite sure what they will do. While speaking to the French-language outlet DH Les Sports+ in an interview published Saturday, Belgian Julie Vanloo acknowledged the dynamic and revealed she isn't quite sure what she will do yet — and that the WNBA might force her hand.