Sandrine Gruda
Sandrine Gruda is a French former professional basketball player.
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. 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.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 with the France women's national basketball team in the qualifying tournament. In 2016, Gruda re-signed with the Sparks after the Olympic break. Later on in the season, Gruda would win her first WNBA championship with the Sparks after they defeated the Minnesota Lynx 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 in a 3-game sweep, setting up a rematch with the Lynx. However, the Sparks would lose to the Lynx in five games.