Almost 39 years old, WNBA coach and Villeneuve d’Ascq legend continues her journey with major Spanish club
Shavonte Zellous, former iconic player of Villeneuve d’Ascq, isn’t hanging up her sneakers just yet. At 38, the American-Croatian guard joins Perfumerías Avenida, one of the biggest clubs in Liga Femenina Endesa, to continue collecting titles and sharing her experience.
A champion to lead Salamanca
WNBA champion, EuroLeague champion, EuroCup champion, and 2024 La Boulangère Wonderligue champion with Villeneuve d’Ascq, Shavonte Zellous (1.78m, turning 39 on August 28, 1986) isn’t ready to leave high-level basketball. Averaging 8.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists with ESBVA during the 2024-2025 season, she will discover a new championship while staying in Europe.
The Spanish club from Salamanca has announced her arrival for the 2025-2026 season, praising « the experience and leadership of a player with a rare trophy collection. » The Castilian club, crowned multiple times in Spain and regularly present in EuroLeague, thus secures an experienced reinforcement to pursue new titles.
A prestigious and still active career
Croatian international Zellous has played for numerous prestigious teams: in the WNBA (notably with Indiana, where she was selected for the All-Star Game), as well as in Turkey, Israel, and France. At Villeneuve d’Ascq, she won the French championship and reached the EuroLeague final in 2024, before winning the EuroCup in 2025.
Even though her domestic league statistics were more modest this season, she continued to make an impact in European games, averaging nearly 15 points and 5 rebounds in EuroLeague and EuroCup. Her role goes beyond numbers: « a player with a winning character and strong influence both on and off the court, » states CB Avenida’s press release.
Currently part of Rachid Meziane’s staff at Connecticut Sun as an individual coach, she hasn’t lost any of her passion for the game. And she’ll prove it again wearing Salamanca’s blue and white jersey this fall.
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