{"id":39777,"date":"2025-07-26T23:00:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-26T23:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/39777\/"},"modified":"2025-07-26T23:00:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-26T23:00:10","slug":"how-julie-squared-is-making-a-big-impact-for-the-sparks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/39777\/","title":{"rendered":"How ‘Julie squared’ is making a big impact for the Sparks"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Sparks acquired Julie Allemand in February 2024<\/a>, alongside Chinese Center Li Yueru<\/a>, but did not play at all in the 2024 season while recovering from an ankle injury. She started this season sidelined due to injury, making her debut for the Sparks on June 1. After only three games, she was gone again \u2014 this time to play for the Belgian Cats in the EuroBasket championships. She was named a member of the tournament\u2019s All-Star Five as Belgium defended their title.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Since Allemand\u2019s return to the Sparks, the team has gone 5-2, and she\u2019s recorded 36 assists alongside only 6 turnovers. Her 2.76 assist-to-turnover rate on the season puts her at third in the league<\/a> for players that have played more than six games. She\u2019s currently shooting 51.5% from the floor and 42%<\/a> from three point range. According to Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts, \u201cher value cannot be understated.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

While Allemand may not be a consistent force in the scoring column, she\u2019s brought a level of calm to the team through her experience at the point guard position that can\u2019t be ignored. \u201cSince she\u2019s been back from EuroBasket, she\u2019s playing at a high level,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cShe came back kind of, you know, with some juice and confidence and wind in her sails. And, you know, our team has kind of followed suit.\u201d <\/p>\n

Ahead of the Sparks\u2019 contest against the Connecticut Sun<\/a>, she added \u201cJulie Allemand<\/a> is just an absolute stud, and her ability to close games and her stat line never really does justice to her impact on the game, but just really smart, competitive, you know, she just always seems to know who needs the ball and where, and she gets it done.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"TwoLos Angeles Sparks guard Julie Vanloo (35) brings the ball up the court as Los Angeles Sparks guard Julie Allemand (20) follows during the WNBA game between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut, USA on July 24, 2025. Photo Credit: Chris Poss<\/p>\n

Alongside Allemand, the Sparks now have another new player contributing at the guard spot \u2014\u00a0also Belgian, also named Julie. Julie Vanloo<\/a>\u2019s WNBA origin story is an unusual one, but coincidentally hinges on an experience she had at Crypto.com Arena. A few years ago, she was in Los Angeles to attend a Sparks game as a fan, doing some self-described \u201cfangirling<\/a>.\u201d A few years later, she was a 26-year-old rookie for the Washington Mystics<\/a>, where she set multiple rookie records and dazzled fans with flashy three point shooting and behind-the-back passes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Vanloo came to the Sparks in July after being waived by the Golden State Valkyries<\/a>, unfortunate news she received while she traveled 18 hours back to San Francisco<\/a> following her EuroCup victory. The Sparks were quick to sign her, and also took an essential first step: making sure that nobody on the team got the two Belgian Julies confused. \u201cWe had to come up with nicknames quickly. Since Julie Allemand was the original \u2014\u00a0the OG Julie \u2014\u00a0we call the other Julie \u2018Loo\u2019 [\u2026]. So we got that settled. So that was step one,\u201d said Roberts.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

While Vanloo is also a seasoned player and a strong distributor, her energy and style is vastly different from Allemand. According to Roberts, \u201cShe\u2019s streaky, but she\u2019s got the green light to see if she can get hot. I think that changes things. She plays with great pace. She\u2019s tremendous out of the pick and roll.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

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In her seven games for the Sparks (same seven games in which the Sparks are 5-2), Vanloo has had two games with 3 or more three pointers, including a 15 point performance in 17 minutes against the Minnesota Lynx<\/a>. While she may not be providing the steady, consistent point guard play of Allemand, she\u2019s giving energy off the bench and seamlessly integrating into the three-pointer-focused, quick pace that Roberts envisioned for this Sparks team. \u201cHer ability to get really hot from three is what we needed, [\u2026] so I was excited that we were able to get her,\u201d said Roberts.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe play super quick. I love that,\u201d Vanloo told The Next about what she\u2019s enjoying about being on the Sparks. \u201c[Roberts] also told us that we need to shoot more threes. So for me, that\u2019s perfect. So I\u2019m trying to just fit in where I can, like, I\u2019m coming off the bench with a lot of energy sometimes, not only scoring, I just try to bring energy where I can, push the ball or just take my open shots and but I really like the system [\u2026] I\u2019m happy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Against the Sun on July 24, Vanloo made two threes in 24 seconds to cut Connecticut\u2019s lead to two and then subsequently take the lead, absolutely igniting the Sparks bench. The Sparks never trailed again.<\/p>\n

One game earlier against the Mystics on July 22, the Sparks had again fallen behind early, with limited momentum in the first quarter. With 1:32 left on the clock, Allemand made a three \u2014\u00a0assisted by Vanloo \u2014 to cut the lead to 9. 40 seconds later, Vanloo made a three \u2014\u00a0assisted by Allemand \u2014\u00a0to cut it again. The chemistry was undeniable.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve played together for years,\u201d Roberts told reporters. \u201cThey\u2019ve known each other since they were young, so that chemistry, both on and off the court, is noticeable.\u201d She went on to compliment their impact on the Sparks\u2019 overall level of execution and ball control in the half court.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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When asked about what it\u2019s like to get to continue playing with Vanloo, Allemand told The Next \u201cI feel more at home right now in LA because she\u2019s here,\u201d noting the complicated start to her season amid injury and EuroBasket commitments. \u201cJust coming back with her, it\u2019s been really different. She\u2019s helping me a lot.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Perhaps most notably, Allemand\u2019s main hope is that the two Julies can play together even more. Right now, Vanloo operates in primarily a backup point guard role behind Allemand \u2014\u00a0the two are only on the court together for 5.7 minutes per game. But in those minutes, the Sparks are shooting 51% from the floor.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI just hope that we\u2019re gonna play a lot more together,\u201d Allemand told The Next. \u201cI know it\u2019s still the beginning, and maybe it\u2019s her [\u2026] fourth or fifth game with LA, but I hope that coach can understand that when we are together on the court, is also something that can really help the team.\u201d She cited their style of play and their chemistry, noting that Vanloo occasionally plays the two spot for Belgium, given her tendency to be lethal from three point range. \u201cShe can make three threes in a row, and you don\u2019t even see it. So I hope that we\u2019re going to use her the best way we can, because I think that it can be a great difference for us, like, in a good way.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Sparks experienced their first four-game win streak since August 2023 this month, and the hope is high. Julie and Julie, both experienced winners and leaders, are determined to continue the success.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we really want to make playoffs,\u201d Vanloo told The Next. \u201cWe want to do everything we can to reach the playoffs. That\u2019s\u2026 a goal we have. And I think if we keep playing and keep building on what we\u2019ve been building\u2026 a good chance we can do that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Allemand added, \u201cI just hope that now that we are almost all back together, like I know [Cameron Brink<\/a>] is gonna be back soon, it\u2019s gonna be different. And I think we can, we can really do something. I think that we\u2019re gonna surprise some teams, [\u2026] just have that mentality that we are not just coming here to play a game, but to win the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roberts echoes their sentiments. \u201cBoth of them have played at a high level, and they\u2019re winners,\u201d she said. \u201cThey do not do losing well. And so when you have that mindset from your two point guards, that, you know, it\u2019s the high tide that rises all ships.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Next\u2019s Jenn Hatfield contributed reporting for this story.<\/p>\n

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