Sandrine Gruda (born 25 June 1987) is a French professional basketball player for PF Schio. Her primary position is center.

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 US Valenciennes Olympic (or USVO, previously ''Union Sportive Valenciennes-Orchies'') is a former French basketball team based in Valenciennes. It will be replaced by Union Hainaut Basket, because of the merging with Union Saint-Amand Porte du ...

. 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.Gruda Honoured As Young Player Of The Year
eurobasketwomen2007.com

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 The 2016 Summer Olympics ( pt, Jogos Olímpicos de Verão de 2016), officially the Games of the XXXI Olympiad ( pt, Jogos da XXXI Olimpíada) and also known as Rio 2016, was an international multi-sport event held from 5 to 21 August 20 ...

with the France women's national basketball team in the qualifying tournament. In 2016, Gruda re-signed with the Sparks after the Olympic break.Sparks Sign Veteran Forward/Center Sandrine Gruda
/ref> Later on in the season, Gruda would win her first WNBA championship with the Sparks after they defeated the

Minnesota Lynx The Minnesota Lynx are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The team won the WNBA title in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017. Founded pr ...

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 The Phoenix Mercury are an American professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference (WNBA), Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The team was founded before the league ...

in a 3-game sweep, setting up a rematch with the Lynx. However, the Sparks would lose to the Lynx in five games.

Overseas career

She played for the Russian club UMMC Ekaterinburg from 2007 to 2016. On 6 July 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.Gruda, Dumerc Highlight All-Tournament Team
eurobasketwomen2009.com She also took part in the World Championship 2006 and the EuroBasket 2007, reaching the quarter-finals both times.

References

External links

Sandrine Gruda Official Site
sandrinegruda.com * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Gruda, Sandrine 1987 births Living people Basketball players at the 2012 Summer Olympics Basketball players at the 2016 Summer Olympics Basketball players at the 2020 Summer Olympics Centers (basketball) Connecticut Sun draft picks Connecticut Sun players Fenerbahçe women's basketball players French expatriate basketball people in Italy French expatriate basketball people in Russia French expatriate basketball people in Turkey French expatriate basketball people in the United States French people of Martiniquais descent French women's basketball players Knights of the Ordre national du Mérite Los Angeles Sparks players Medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 2020 Summer Olympics Olympic basketball players of France Olympic medalists in basketball Olympic silver medalists for France Olympic bronze medalists for France Sportspeople from Cannes France women's national basketball team players