French star Sandra Le Dréan and Valenciennes made a strong statement about their 2006 EuroLeague Women intentions this week with a win against a tough Dynamo Moscow outfit.

Valenciennes are looking to regain the kind of form that saw them top Europe as recently as 2001 and again in 2003.

Victory against Dynamo, EuroLeague Women quarter-finalists in 2005, was a good start.

Although Sue Bird is yet to join the team, in Kamila Vodicková, Tatiana Shchegoleva and Natalia Vodopiyanova, Dynamo has one of Europe's most imposing front lines.

It was a challenge that was accepted with relish by France international Le Dréan.

The 186 cm forward was at the heart of everything Valenciennes did on court and tallied 16 points, 7 rebounds and a European club competition career high 9 assists in her side's 73-64 win.

The performance was good enough to earn her EuroLeague Women Player of the Week honours.

Valenciennes will be looking for that kind of output on a consistent basis from Le Dréan if they are to achieve their consistently lofty European goals.

The club will also be looking to Le Dréan and veteran team-mates Vedrana Grgin Fonseca and Slobodanka Tuvic to look after their trio of talented youngsters, Sandrine Gruda, Jennifer Digbeu and Sylvie Gruszczynski.

Gruda started in her EuroLeague Women debut against Moscow and impressed, tallying 12 points and 7 rebounds in 30 minutes.

With that combination of youth and experience, Valenciennes could very well soon be back in a position they are very familiar with; Europe's number one women's club.