Janelle Illona Salaün (born 5 September 2001) is a French professional basketball player who plays for Famila Schio of the Lega Basket Femminile. Salaün plays for the France women's national basketball team and was part of the French team at the 2024 Summer Olympics, where she won a silver medal.
 Salaün with the French national team in May 2023 | |
| No. 13 – Famila Schio | |
|---|---|
| Position | Small forward/power forward |
| League | Lega Basket Femminile |
| Personal information | |
| Born | 5 September 2001 Paris, France |
| Nationality | French |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Career information | |
| Playing career | 2019–present |
| Career history | |
| 2019–2020 | Flammes Carolo |
| 2020–2024 | Villeneuve-d'Ascq |
| 2024–present | Famila Schio |
| 2025–present | Golden State Valkyries |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Professional career
editSalaün trained at the Centre Fédéral, averaging 9.4 points, 7.7 rebounds in 27 minutes of play in Ligue 2 in 2018-2019, she signed her first professional contract with the Flammes Carolo.[1] Disappointed with the lack of playing time, she joined Villeneuve-d'Ascq the following year.[2] Salaün scored 17 points on 3 October 2021 against Charnay and 14 points on 2 December against Tarbes.[3][4]
Her 2023-2024 season with Villeneuve-d'Ascq was very successful. Playing a major role in her team, Salaün managed to reach the EuroLeague final and won the national title in the LFB. This successful season therefore ended her experience in France when she decided at the end of the season to join the Italian club Famila Schio.[5]
On 5 February 2025, Salaün signed a training camp contract with the Golden State Valkyries of the Women's National Basketball Association.[6]
National team career
editSalaün represented the France national under-16 team at the 2018 U16 European Championship, where she won a gold medal. She also won a silver medal at the 2018 U17 World Cup alongside Iliana Rupert and Marine Fauthoux.[7][8]
With the U20 Euro 2021 cancelled for health reasons, FIBA organised the European Challengers in which Salaün stood out, notably against Poland with 26 points at 11/17 shooting success, including 2/4 at 3-pointers, 21 rebounds and 4 assists.[9] France finished the Challenge undefeated with 5 wins and Salaün averaged 17.0 points at 57.9% shooting, 10.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists, in which she was named the tournament's MVP.[10][11]
Salaün was part of the squad for the Paris Olympics tournament. She started in all 6 games during France's road to the silver medal, averaging 18.4 minutes, 6.0 points, and 3.0 rebounds per game.[12]
Player profile
editA tall player trained as an interior, Salaün's mobility allows her to be a complete winger thanks to her good exterior address.[8]
Personal life
editSalaün's parents both played basketball. Her brother Tidjane Salaün, plays for the Charlotte Hornets.[13] She is of Guadeloupean descent.[14]
Orders
edit
Chevalier in the French Order of Merit: 2024[15]
References
edit- ^ Kevin Bosi (April 16, 2019). "Janelle Salaun rejoint Charleville-Mézières". ffbb.com. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
- ^ Marc Perais (April 20, 2020). "LFB : L'ESBVA-LM présente sa nouvelle Guerrière Janelle SALAUN". postup.fr. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
- ^ Thomas Palmier (December 2, 2021). "Villeneuve au rendez-vous des playoffs d'Eurocoupe". lesolympistes.com. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
- ^ Mathieu Wargnier (October 3, 2021). "L'ASVEL surpris, Basket Landes démarre bien". sports.fr. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
- ^ Gabriel Pantel-Jouve (April 25, 2024). "Janelle Salaün tentera sa première aventure à l'étranger à Schio". bebasket.fr. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ "Golden State Valkyries Sign Sign Janelle Salaün". .wnba.com. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
- ^ "Janelle Illona Salaün". besport.com. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
- ^ a b Antoine Berranger (April 20, 2020). "LES 12 (!!!) JOUEUSES MÉDAILLÉES DE L'ÉQUIPE DE FRANCE U17". envergure.co. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
- ^ "Troisième victoire de rang au Challengers pour Janelle Salaun et les Bleuettes". bebasketweb.oziolab.fr. July 16, 2021. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
- ^ "Janelle Salaun". Ligue féminine de basket. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
- ^ Sébastien Darnaux (July 24, 2021). "Basket : la Villeneuvoise Janelle Salaun récompensée d'un titre MVP en équipe de France U20". lavoixdunord.fr. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
- ^ Vrignaud, Nicolas (August 11, 2024). "Janelle Salaün, la médaille du travail". TrashTalk (in French). Retrieved February 10, 2025.
- ^ Givony, Jonathan (April 25, 2024). "French teen Tidjane Salaun submits paperwork to enter NBA draft". ESPN. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
- ^ "Basket : qui sont les Antillais sélectionnés pour les JO de Paris ?". guadeloupe.franceantilles.fr. April 23, 2024.
- ^ Décret du 23 septembre 2024 portant promotion et nomination dans l'ordre national du Mérite.