While the Liberty’s front office was able to retain its championship core, it still made some significant changes. They acquired Natasha Cloud from the Connecticut Sun, got Rebekah Gardner back from injury, and signed Isabelle Harrison and Marine Johannes. Later in the season, the Liberty also signed Stephanie Talbot and Emma Meesseman.
Meesseman has been the ultimate blessing for a Liberty team missing Breanna Stewart, Kennedy Burke, and Nyara Sabally. As soon as she stepped onto the court for the first time, the Liberty snapped a tough four-game losing streak and strung together three consecutive wins.
Meesseman played well in her first five games with the Liberty
Before joining the Liberty five games ago, Meesseman hadn’t played in the WNBA since 2022. That didn’t stop her from having an immediate impact. Meesseman played only 17 minutes in her first game, but recorded 11 points, two rebounds, three assists, and one block. Since then, she has only gotten more comfortable.
Her performance against the Los Angeles Sparks marked her best game of the season. Meesseman recorded 24 points on 60 percent shooting, nine rebounds, four assists, and one block as she led the short-handed Liberty to a huge win.
Since Meesseman joined the Liberty, the team has only lost one game. They fell to the Napheesa-Collier-less Minnesota Lynx. New York beat Connecticut, Dallas, and Los Angeles, though. Dallas and Connecticut may not be the toughest opponents in the league, but the Liberty lost to both teams just before Meesseman came to New York.
Meesseman has changed the way the Liberty play without Breanna Stewart. Before her arrival, the Liberty struggled to make up for Stewart’s absence. First, they started Isabelle Harrison in Stewart’s place. Then, Marine Johannes got the start, and Leonie Fiebich moved to the power forward spot. Both options gave up size and production compared to when Stewart is in the starting lineup. That drop-off is significantly smaller—or even nonexistent—with Meesseman as the fifth starter.
The Liberty hope to have a healthy roster soon
While Meesseman’s presence has allowed the Liberty to turn things around, the return of all the injured players is highly anticipated. Kennedy Burke was available as an emergency player against the Sparks and should be able to play again soon.
Breanna Stewart hopes to be back later this month. She told reporters that she wanted to return to the court before her birthday on August 27. That would give the Liberty five regular-season games before the playoffs to ease Stewart back into the system and figure out rotations.
One big question is whether Sandy Brondello will choose to keep Meesseman in the starting lineup and move Stewart to the three or bring the Belgian superstar off the bench, like the Mystics did when Meesseman was named Finals MVP in 2019.