Julie Vanloo

Debuting against both WNBA history's No. 2-ranked assists leader and one of the Association’s most free-flowing offenses, Julie Vanloo didn’t have to look far, should her own creative, selfless style have needed inspiration on May 14, 2024. And, though the term “passing of the torch” would’ve been ambitious, the WNBA’s oldest rookie did, at the very least, ensure that torch-like passes were zipped across the floor. Elevating the Washington Mystics to the challenge of battling an eventual league-pacing, 32-win juggernaut in the New York Liberty, Vanloo’s process kept the offense organized through high-IQ pocket passes, perimeter swings, and dazzling handles. One perfectly-descriptive example arrived on the third quarter’s final play, in which Vanloo, in five seconds, disengaged from Ivana Dojkić with a fancy behind-the-back maneuver before burying a one-legged, 36-foot buzzer-beater, fueling an eight-point advantage. David wouldn’t conquer Goliath — as New York’s comeback showed — but with enough court vision to oversee both, Vanloo impressed nonetheless. Leaving no stone unturned in her 13-minute appearance, Vanloo offered a three-point, one-rebound, four-assist, one-steal, one-triple contribution. The debut set the tone for a campaign that saw Vanloo finish fifth all-time in single-season rookie 3-pointers (72) and second in rookie assists (173) in 2024.

Three-Star Rookie