| 27.04.2006
The season may not yet be over, but French side Valenciennes are already focusing their attention towards 2007 with several end of season roster moves.
Valenciennes were rocked by the recent news that star forward Sandra Le Dréan will not be back for what would have been her seventh year with the club. Instead, the French international has chosen to sign with Czech side USK Praha.
2006 has been a return to power for the two-time former EuroLeague Women champs. Valenciennes finished the French regular season in first place, made it back to the EuroLeague Final Four after a conspicuous absence in 2005 and will face arch-rivals Bourges in the French Cup final on May 7 in Paris.
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Emilie Gomis
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| Despite the success, Head Coach Laurent Buffard is not resting on his laurels and Valenciennes today announced several personnel changes for next season.
Along with Le Dréan, Sonja Kireta, Laina Badiane have reached the end of their contracts and are not expected to be back for the 2006/2007 season, while 20-year old point guard Sylvie Gruszczynski will be loaned to a different club.
As replacements, Valenciennes have secured the services of French internationals Elodie Godin, Emilie Gomis and Krissy Bade.
Gomis had a breakout season for Lille in 2006, putting up 14.7 points and 3.2 assists per game in the EuroCup Women. Bade also had a good year, contributing 9 points and 3 rebounds per game for USO Mondeville in their EuroLeague Women campaign.
However, the biggest coup for Valenciennes is the signing of Godin from Bourges. The 21 year old center had her best season ever in the EuroLeague Women, averaging 10.5 points and 9 rebounds (fourth overall in the competition) per game and earning an All-Star berth.
Godin's addition gives Valenciennes one of the stronger frontcourts in Europe where she will team up with Serb international Slobodanka Tuvic and the sensation of the 2005/2006 season, Sandrine Gruda.
2006/2007 Valenciennes Roster
Kristy HARROWER, 32, 1m68, Guard, Australian International
Emilie GOMIS, 23, 1m80, Guard/Forward, French International
Krissy BADE, 26, 1m82, Forward, French International
Jennifer DIGBEU, 18, 1m87, Forward, French U20 International
Védrana GRGIN-FONSECA, 30, 1m90, Forward, Croatian International
Emmanuelle HERMOUET, 26, 1m82, Forward, French International
Elodie GODIN, 21, 1m90, Center, French International
Sandrine GRUDA, 18, 1m92, Center, French International
Slobodanka TUVIC, 28, 1m96, Center, Serbian International |
