Liberty’s Meesseman Coup Is Rare Midseason Jolt to Title Race

Emma Meesseman’s return to the WNBA is no longer a question of if, but a matter of when after she formally committed to joining the Liberty. 

When she does finally make her reentrance into the WNBA—her arrival is dependent upon the U.S. visa process—the 2019 Finals MVP will take the Liberty from a contender to the unquestioned favorite to repeat because of the depth and versatility she adds to an already stacked roster. At 16–6, the Liberty sit 3.5 games behind the Lynx, the team they edged out in five games to win the title last fall.

“Oh geez,” Fever coach Stephanie White said when asked for her reaction to news that Meesseman would be joining the defending champs. “Emma’s been an incredible player in our league. She hasn’t been in the league for a little while but she’s been an incredible leader and player abroad. She adds another dimension. You’re talking about an already dangerous team that adds one of the best players in the world.” 

But why was Meesseman even available? And how did Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb put the organization in a position to sign her? 

First, the two-time EuroBasket champion has not played in the WNBA since her lone season with the Chicago Sky in 2022. Then-coach and general manager James Wade signed Meesseman to a one-year contract valued at $175,000 to add another layer of depth and versatility to a championship roster looking to go back-to-back. Ultimately, the Sky ended up losing to the Connecticut Sun in the semifinals. 

During exit interviews that year, Meesseman talked at length about prioritizing time with family and the importance she placed on playing for the Belgian national team. She lamented the WNBA’s prioritization rule and ultimately ended up taking a two-year hiatus from the league. Because Meesseman didn’t sign with a team in 2023 or 2024, she maintained her status as an unrestricted free agent giving her the freedom to sign with the team of her choosing. 

According to multiple league sources, Meesseman was considering the Phoenix Mercury and Minnesota Lynx before she ultimately decided to join the Liberty. 

“It speaks highly of our front office,” Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu said of Meesseman’s impending signing. “How they continue to work to bring the right pieces here, understanding that it’s about longevity. We want to build a legacy here as one of the best teams and bring in many championships, not just one.” 

That desire to win multiple titles influenced the Liberty’s top players’ decision to sign team friendly contracts over the years. Not a single player on the Liberty roster is signed to a supermax deal, which has given Kolb more cap space to work with. Additionally, the Liberty lost Kayla Thornton to the Valkyries in the expansion draft, freeing up $110,000 in cap space. Kolb also suspended forward Betnijah Laney’s contract, valued at $180,000, after she had surgery for a knee injury she sustained as a relief player for Unrivaled. 

After signing forward Stephanie Talbot on Monday the Liberty have about $120,000 in cap space. Meesseman’s contract will be prorated based on when she actually signs with the Liberty. 

Meesseman’s ties to the Liberty include former teammates Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Natasha Cloud, Rebekah Gardner and Nyara Sabally. She also played for coach Sandy Brondello and Liberty assistant Olaf Lange in Russia. 

“From my purview, she wants to win,” Kolb told reporters during the team’s shootaround on Tuesday. “She wants to win a championship. That’s her No. 1 goal.”