French all-time leading female basketball scorer, Sandrine Gruda, has announced her retirement from the national team.
Gruda, who recorded 2,878 points in 225 games with the French jersey, disclosed this in an interview with FIBA on Wednesday, August 14, 2024.
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“I feel good when I think about my career. I am proud of myself because of what I consider about where I come from—Martinique, an island in the Caribbean,” Gruda said.
Gruda has won nine medals with the French national team: a EuroBasket gold in 2009, EuroBasket silvers in 2013, 2015, 2019, and 2021, EuroBasket bronzes in 2011 and 2023, Olympic silver in London in 2012, and Olympic bronze in Tokyo in 2021.
“One coach told me that in basketball, you will not remember the trophies and medals. You will remember relationships and the people you built those goals with,” Gruda said. “That is exactly it.”
“I remember how much time we spent working on goals and talking about them. We were building friendships, and that has been beautiful for me. Just to be able to connect with those people,” she said.
Gruda has established her status as a EuroLeague Women legend. She’s 2nd in all-time points, 3rd in rebounds, and 4th in blocks and games played.
The French star was FIBA Europe Women’s Player of the Year in 2009 and is also a WNBA champion with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2016. She was named to the Tokyo Olympics’ All-Star Five in 2021.
“People always told me how focused I was compared to others. I was not there to chit-chat; I was on a mission,” Gruda said.
By Dotun Omisakin
