Last Friday, the defending champion New York Liberty announced the addition of forward Emma Meesseman as they aim to repeat as WNBA champions.
Emma Meesseman makes her first field goal since 09/08/22, and she does it in style 👏
NYL-CON | Free on the WNBA App, courtesy of @CarMax pic.twitter.com/ndWNDlNAEn
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 3, 2025
With the signing of Meesseman, the Liberty has three players who previously won Finals MVP awards: Meesseman in 2019, Breanna Stewart in 2018 and 2020, and Jonquel Jones in 2024.
“Emma Meesseman’s return to the WNBA is a tremendous moment for our league, and the fact that she chose New York for her next chapter speaks volumes,” New York Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb said in a press release Friday. “She is one of the most skilled, intelligent, and unselfish players in the world, and her presence elevates everyone around her. Emma brings invaluable experience, championship pedigree, and a unique versatility that fits seamlessly into our group as we continue our relentless pursuit of a title in 2025.”
On Sunday, Meesseman made her return to the WNBA for the first time in nearly three years and helped New York snap a four-game losing streak with a win over the Connecticut Sun.
Sandy Brondello Praises Meesseman
As the Liberty deal with notable absences of Breanna Stewart, Kennedy Burke, and Nyara Sabally due to injuries, New York needed someone to step up.
In 17 minutes of play, Meesseman contributed to the team’s victory with 11 points, two rebounds, and three assists.
“I’m really proud,” New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello said. “It’s hard. Like I said, every other teams are experiencing an injury thing, and we just unfortunately had to experience it with all our bigs out. So that’s how hard it is to win in this league with other lineups that we had, and we leaned so much into the players, our big players playing really big minutes.”
“So we showed how resilient we are, how we can stay together, because that’s what everyone faces. Adversity, is what you’re going to do with it. But it was nice, obviously, to have Emma. It was easier for the rotations in the matchup. So really happy to integrate her, for her to come out and play the game that she did.”
It was Meesseman’s first WNBA game since Game 5 of the 2022 Semifinals between the Chicago Sky and Connecticut Sun, which the Sun won through a thunderous comeback over the Sky. Earlier this year, she participated in the EuroBasket Tournament, leading Belgium to a championship while averaging 19.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game.
What Emma Meesseman Brings to the Liberty
Meesseman brings in championship pedigree and the talent to the Liberty, who won its first championship in franchise history last October. As New York integrated her into the rotation throughout Sunday’s game, and her familiarity with players and coaches from previous overseas added a level of comfortability.
When being asked about what Meesseman noticed regarding the differences between the Liberty’s performances against the Sun on both Friday and Sunday, she mentioned that New York needed a body.
“A body,” Meesseman said postgame. “I mean, what Sandy (Brondello) said, it’s a hard schedule at this time, and there’s a lot of fatigue, but I think just giving them some minutes. Sometimes, some blue moving the ball (and) getting people open. Just beautiful basketball being part of that already in New York.”
Sabrina Ionescu Shines Again
Guard Sabrina Ionescu led the Liberty with a double-double of 36 points, just one point shy of her career-high, 11 rebounds, and four assists while logging 37 minutes. Her 14 made field goals set a new career-high and ties Phoenix Mercury legend Diana Taurasi for the most 30-10 games by a guard in WNBA history.
Postgame, Ionescu said the way the team played in the second half showed they’re starting to get more comfortable with Meesseman and building chemistry.
“The second half was a great example of being able to get the feel of the game,” Ionescu said. “Continuing to talk through what we see out there. And then, I feel like the second half was pretty seamless on what we were looking for (and) how we were able to communicate.”
“And I’ve never played with her, and so now it’s trying to speed up the chemistry by communicating and being able to figure out what she likes, what I like— how we can get each other going, and how we can play off one another. And I mean, to be able to do what she did in her first game. I don’t think many people could do so. I’m super proud of her and her ability to stay locked in from the first to the second half and come out and help us win.”
Emma Meesseman’s Past Connections with Liberty Teammates
As the regular season winds down, the Liberty continue to navigate through shifts in team chemistry, particularly with the absences and returns of notable players. New York is missing Betnijah Laney-Hamilton for the remainder of the season, but is looking to bring home another title to the Big Apple.
Meesseman echoed Ionescu’s comments about settling into Brondello’s system. She’s also familiar with several Liberty teammates. Having won a championship with Cloud on the 2019 Washington Mystics, Meesseman also played overseas alongside Stewart, Sabally, and Jones.
“Like Sabrina said, the first habit is being thrown in there and having a feel for how this team plays,” Meesseman said. “I’ve played with a lot of people on this team already, but always in different teams and different systems. So, I have to get that system of New York with these players, and then the second half got better a little bit. Every game, every practice we have, just hopefully it’s going to be better.”
The New York Liberty will host Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings on Tuesday.
