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Julie Vanloo gets brutally honest on struggles after stellar Liberty debut
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- Julie Vanloo gets brutally honest on struggles after stellar Liberty debut
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With the New York Liberty coming off the preseason, the team started the regular season with a bang as they beat the Connecticut Sun on Friday night, 106-75. As the Liberty stood out on opening night , one key performance from the game was guard Julie Vanloo, who has had a whirlwind of a journey.
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Vanloo was cut by the Los Angeles Sparks earlier in the week, as she gave real thought about ending her WNBA career and returning to Belgium, where she's from. However, her conversations with her family convinced her to stay and eventually sign with New York, recording 12 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds in her debut.
The 33-year-old kept it real after the win, saying how "it was a tough week," via Fiifi Frimpong.
"I'm a bit overwhelmed," Vanloo said. "It was a tough week. I'm a little bit overwhelmed, and I'm just trying to take it all in. That's it, just being raised, trying to stay positive, trying to stay confident. I had a lot of conversations with my family, my close people, I really wanted to give up and go home, because I was exhausted from a long season overseas and from giving everything I had in training camp [in LA]."
"And so I was just like, 'Am I gonna give up or no?' Like, do I need some time at home to just reset? But then I said, No. My mom said, also, you're not a quitter. So I didn't do it, and I'm super thankful for this organization. It's like my anxiety just went away, and I just feel super free, liberated. It feels good," Vanloo continued.
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Liberty's Julie Vanloo on being cut in two straight years
Having played overseas for all of the 2000s and 2010s, her WNBA career started in 2024 with the Washington Mystics. Now with the Liberty, her debut was especially impressive as she was signed the day of the game.
At any rate, Vanloo looks to carve out a permanent role with New York and build off her debut in the next game on Sunday afternoon against the Washington Mystics.
Related: NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani catches sold-out Liberty opening night
Related: Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu gets timeline on foot injury suffered in preseason
