Tag: Julie Vanloo

Who is Julie Vanloo? Meet the 31-year-old Mystics guard who is the WNBA’s oldest rookie

Meet Julie Vanloo, the 31-year-old WNBA rookie who’s been turning heads.

At 31 years old, Washington Mystics guard Julie Vanloo is the WNBA’s oldest rookie. How did she start playing in the league past the age that most rookies do? The answer is simple — Julie Vanloo made it happen.

Five years post-WNBA championship, the Washington Mystics are transforming. There’s no Natasha Cloud, Elena Delle Donne or even Kristi Toliver who will walk through that door and suddenly help the Mystics be better. (It’s a full-on REBUILD.)

But, the Mystics have several young pieces to be excited about, like Aaliyah Edwards, who they picked up in the 2024 WNBA Draft and 31-year-old Belgian hooper Julie Vanloo. Per Kareem Copeland of The Washington Post, Vanloo decided before her 30th birthday that she wanted to play in the WNBA. This is what she shared about her dream:

“I just wanted to live with no regrets,” she said Tuesday. “And I just wanted to do everything I could to do it. And if it didn’t happen, then at least I tried everything.”

Vanloo’s extensive basketball career, which includes winning a Eurobasket championship with the Belgian national team, caught the eye of Mystics general manager Mike Thibault. Thibault had been scouting Vanloo’s team for years as part of his responsibilities with USA Basketball.

As Vanloo’s game evolved, so did Washington’s interest in her. She signed with the team in February, and three games into the season, she started her first game after veteran Brittney Sykes went down with an ankle injury.

“It was definitely something special,” Vanoloo told Copeland. “You’re starting in the WNBA — I never thought that would even happen this year.”

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Tokyo Olympics: Kevin Durant meets his biggest fan from Belgium

Julie Vanloo, a 28-year-old professional basketball player for Belgium, realizes her dream of meeting Kevin Durant.

Nets star Kevin Durant will be the head of snake in Team USA’s first game versus France. Before tipping off for the Sunday matchup, Durant ran into someone special. Julie Vanloo, a 28-year-old basketball player from Belgium, stopped him in Tokyo. In the wholesome interaction she told him, “I’m your biggest fan! I’m telling you … I can’t believe this! Oh my God! — I’m your biggest fan. I’m from Belgium, I’m a basketball player too!”

A shocked Durant replied, “You hoop?” Vanloo, still in disbelief, responded, “Yeah I hoop!” The two began talking about the Belgian’s first matchup in the Olympics against Australia. Vanloo admitted that she was nervous in that moment. She said months ago that it was one of her dreams to meet KD.

Now, her dream has become a reality. In an update, the Belgian baller said “this means everything.” In years past, Vanloo has played in various different countries such as Spain and Australia. In each place, she has prospered despite language barriers.

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