Golden State Valkyries fans finally got to see French rookie Janelle Salaün in action. Salaün joined the team late because her season in Italy ran long, and she needed some time to rest before suiting up for her new team. The 23-year-old just won an Italian league championship with Familia Schio and was named the Finals MVP.
She showed the reason for all of that success in her debut with the Golden State Valkyries. While Salaün was not the star of the show—Veronica Burton claimed that distinction—her versatility and all-around talent were on full display, giving Valkyries fans a glimpse of her potential.
Janelle Salaün’s versatility is her superpower
Janelle Salaün is an incredibly versatile player, and that will make her a valuable long-term piece for the Valkyries. The French forward can do a bit of everything on the court. She can get to the rim, space the floor, create her own shot, and push the ball in transition. Even though she missed some shots, all of these things were on full display in her Valkyries debut.
Defensively, she is just as versatile. At 6’3”, she can guard tall players well and hold her own in the paint. However, she is also quick enough to play against guards on the perimeter. She can switch onto pretty much anyone, giving the Valkyries plenty of flexibility defensively. In her first WNBA game, she guarded bigs or wings depending on who else was on the floor with her.
Salaün finished the game with a solid stat line of 10 points, four rebounds, and one steal. Those numbers may not jump off the page, but they are great considering that this was her first game with a completely new team, and she missed training camp.
Despite arriving in San Francisco late and not getting much time to practice with her new teammates, Salaün fit well into the Valykries’ system. That seamless fit is another testament to her versatility and ability to adjust to any situation.
Janelle Salaün has a very high ceiling
The Valkyries relied heavily on international players and veterans when they built their initial roster. Some fans were not thrilled with the Valkyries’ draft strategy, as Juste Jocyte, their top pick, will not join the team until next year, and all other draft picks were waived.
Nevertheless, the Valkyries have plenty of interesting young talent on the roster. Veronica Burton is only 24, Carla Leite is 21, and Salaün is 23 years old. What sets them apart from traditional rookies is that they already have experience playing professional basketball. Burton is already in her fourth WNBA season, and Leite and Salaün started playing professionally in Europe as teenagers.
That experience will help them as they develop with the Valkyries. Salaün may have only played one game in the WNBA, but her potential is obvious. With her size and versatility on both ends of the floor, Salaün has all the tools to put together a successful WNBA career.