PARIS (France) - French star Sandrine Gruda has announced her retirement, marking the end of her remarkable career.
With almost two decades of participation in the the prestigious EuroLeague Women, Gruda leaves a lasting legacy.
She made her debut back in the 2005-2006 season with US Valenciennes Olympic and finished on French soil having suited up with LDLC ASVEL Feminin last season.
In between those bookends, she played for an array of leading clubs including 10 campaigns between 2006 and 2016 with Russian juggernauts and perennial Final Four participants, UMMC Ekaterinburg. That brought Gruda a cherished winners' medal in 2013.
She also then moved to Istanbul where she stepped out with Fenerbahce, representing them in the 2017 Final, prior switching to Yakin Dogu Universitesi who she helped reach the Final Four in 2018.
Italy was next as Gruda jumped to Beretta Famila Schio, where she wore the famous orange jersey across four consecutive seasons. The 37-year-old then ended in Lyon with two campaigns for ASVEL - with one of those in EuroCup Women when she was crowned a champion in 2023.
Gruda steps away from EuroLeague Women having cemented her status as one of the competition's greatest ever players and contributors.
She finished a glittering career on 259 appearances, which is the fourth highest on the honors board. However, it is her scoring exploits that impress most, since Gruda is now the second all-time highest EuroLeague Women scorer with 3,393 points and only Ann Wauters above her.
She is also third in the all-time rebounding chart, having smashed the glass for 1,673 boards - only beaten by fellow legends and teammates Maria Stepanova and Ann Wauters.
Gruda sits proudly at the helm of the offensive rebounding list with 587 - as well as being fourth for blocked shots with 258.
FIBA