2019 Finals MVP Emma Meesseman will make Liberty debut against the Sun
The 2019 WNBA Finals MVP, who last played in the league in 2022, will suit up for the team Friday night against the Connecticut Sun.
'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,' said New York Liberty GM Jonathan Kolb. '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.'
Her arrival is a boost for the squad, which will be without Breanna Stewart for a few weeks while she recovers from a bone bruise in her right knee. New York also is without Nyara Sabally (knee) and Kennedy Burke (right calf strain).
Meesseeman plays forward alike Stewart, and is also 6-foot-4.
The Liberty (17-9) are in second place in the standings despite having lost three straight games. They are in the midst of a busy stretch with three games in the next five days, playing twice in Connecticut on Friday and Sunday and then hosting Dallas on Tuesday.
The 32-year-old Meesseman is a two-time All-Star and helped the Washington Mystics win the 2019 title. She has been focused on leading the Belgium national team since her last season in the WNBA, which she spent with the Chicago Sky. Meesseman played with Natasha Cloud, whom New York acquired in the offseason, in Washington when the Mystics won their championship six years ago.
Meesseman helped Belgium win the EuroBasket title last month to qualify for next year's World Cup.
Even without Stewart for the immediate future, the Liberty still have a talented group around Meesseman with Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones, Cloud and Leonie Fiebich leading the way.
Meesseman has dominated overseas in her time away from the WNBA. She was named the EuroBasket MVP twice in the past three years. She helped Belgium reach the medal round at the Paris Olympics before it lost to France in overtime in the semifinals and then Australia in the bronze-medal game.
The Liberty waived guard Jaylyn Sherrod to make room for Meesseman.
'Jaylyn Sherrod is a champion in every sense of the word. She embodies the passion, grit, and relentlessness that define the city of New York," Kolb said. 'Her rise from undrafted free agent to WNBA Champion is one of the most remarkable stories I've had the good fortune to witness, a testament to perseverance, and a powerful reminder to always push the boundaries and to never give up.'
___
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
12 minutes ago
- USA Today
Aces vs. Valkyries odds, tips and betting trends - 8/6/2025
The Las Vegas Aces (15-14) travel to face the Golden State Valkyries (14-14) after Jewell Loyd racked up 27 points in the Aces' 101-77 win over the Valkyries. The matchup airs on NBA TV, Vegas 34, KPIX+, and KMAX 31 at 10 p.m. ET on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. Las Vegas knocked off Golden State 101-77 at home its last time out, led by Loyd (27 PTS, 2 STL, 61.5 FG%, 7-11 from 3PT) and Jackie Young (20 PTS, 8 AST, 2 STL, 58.3 FG%, 3-6 from 3PT). In the loss for the Valkyries, Iliana Rupert (17 PTS, 8 REB, 41.7 FG%, 3-8 from 3PT) and Laeticia Amihere (14 PTS, 9 REB, 50.0 FG%) were the top contributors. Before this showdown, here's everything you need to get ready for Wednesday's action. Watch the WNBA on Fubo! Las Vegas Aces vs. Golden State Valkyries odds and betting lines WNBA odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Tuesday at 6:05 a.m. ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. Aces moneyline insights Valkyries moneyline insights Aces vs. Valkyries: Game time and info Watch the WNBA on Fubo!
New York Times
14 minutes ago
- New York Times
Mets' prolonged stretch of mediocrity raises a big question: How good are they?
NEW YORK — By the time Cleveland Guardians first baseman Carlos Santana dropped the ball on a relay play from right field, New York Mets third-base coach Mike Sarbaugh had already told hard-charging Tyrone Taylor to hold up. Taylor obeyed Sarbaugh's order, hitting the brakes after a hard turn and retreating to third base. Long afterward, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said he approved the decision not to send Taylor home on Francisco Lindor's double in part because of the circumstances. Tie score. Bottom of the ninth inning. One out. Juan Soto up next. Pete Alonso up after that. If this were blackjack, the dealer advises to stay. Advertisement 'I thought it was 100 percent the right (call),' Mendoza said. But from there, Taylor never moved from third base. The Guardians intentionally walked Soto. Alonso struck out. Jeff McNeil lined out. Inning over. Chance gone. Questions like whether or not to send Taylor home tend to carry an outsized impact after games when a bigger issue is at play. The real question after New York's 7-6 loss in 10 innings on Monday night at Citi Field is: Just how good are the Mets? New York rallied from a five-run deficit on Monday only to lose because of poor starting pitching, Brett Baty's throwing error in the 10th inning and an inability to cash in more runs late in the game. The Mets are 63-50. They are one and a half games behind the Philadelphia Phillies for first place in the National League East. Three teams earn wild-card bids into the playoffs, and the Mets sit in second, four games ahead of the fourth-place team. It is the first week of August; not time to panic. Yet the Mets find themselves in such a position mostly because of how well they played over the first two months of the season, not the last two months. Since June, the Mets are 27-28. They are a different team than the one they were in May. Back then, the Mets received solid starting pitching. Even early on, getting consistently deep into games was an issue, but at least it wasn't something that all but one starter was allergic to. These days, the Mets' rotation is a problem. For as much as Frankie Montas' struggles have dominated the discussion, concerns over Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea hold more importance. The Mets need Senga and Manaea leading them, along with David Peterson — they profile as the club's playoff starters. Regardless of the plan by then calling for designed shorter starts or not, the Mets need to first reach the postseason. And to do that, they are relying on Senga and Manaea being healthy and productive. Advertisement Both pitchers returned from the injured list last month. Senga has made four starts, failing to record outs beyond the fifth inning in any of them. On Monday, Manaea made his fifth start, looking poised to pitch deep into a game until his performance unraveled in the sixth. With two outs in the sixth inning and within a few jogging steps out of the dugout, Mendoza pointed toward the bullpen. On the mound, all Manaea could do was casually toss the ball to himself as he waited for the inevitable. With that, the concerning trend continued: Another failed attempt by a Mets starter to pitch at least six innings. No Mets pitcher other than Peterson has accomplished the feat since June 7. Manaea was rolling — until he wasn't. Using a heavy amount of four-seam fastballs and not much else, Manaea needed just 57 pitches to hold the Guardians scoreless through the first five innings. However, in the sixth inning, he allowed five hits, five runs and hit a batter. Shortstop Gabriel Arias delivered the major blow when he crushed a changeup over the middle for a three-run home run that traveled an estimated 440 feet. 'It happened fast,' Mendoza said. Added Manaea: 'No way around it — that sucks.' The Mets need Manaea to pitch like a top starter. As for Montas? The expectations are far, far lower. The Mets need Montas to resemble a back-end starter capable of throwing five innings while keeping his team in the game. The days of dreaming for anything more stopped on Sunday when Montas failed to complete five innings for the second consecutive start. Indeed, the bar is low for Montas. After three major additions to their bullpen, the Mets have just one spot that is up for grabs. They are using it as a shuttle when they need a fresh arm. With such a current roster formula, the Mets' best path for success includes Montas simply doing his job. Advertisement That is why, despite possibly using an opener on Saturday, the Mets plan on Montas absorbing innings on that day. The issues in the rotation wouldn't be as pronounced if the offense performed as touted. For parts of Monday, the lineup not only looked strong but also capable of covering up shortcomings elsewhere, which was the Mets' plan this season all along. After Manaea exited with the Mets trailing 5-0, the offense, which has been inconsistent all season, responded with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Sure, they got some help; Lindor reached on a strikeout after the third strike got away and Soto reached on a fielder's choice after hitting what looked like a double-play ball. But Alonso made the Guardians pay for their mistakes with a three-run home run, moving him one home run shy of matching Darryl Strawberry for the club's all-time mark. Alonso went 4-for-5 with four RBIs. In the eighth inning, the Mets ambushed talented reliever Hunter Gaddis with four singles on his first eight pitches. They ended up tying the score at 5-5. But it was too little, too late. In the 10th inning, their defense, yet another season-long concern, let them down. After fielding a hard bunt, third baseman Brett Baty made an errant throw to second base, where Lindor was covering but couldn't reel in the ball, which went into right field. The Guardians scored one run on the play, then added another on a sacrifice fly. Mendoza said Baty made the right decision with runners on first and second with none out, but the execution was off. 'I've just got to make a better throw on that play,' Baty said. It was a shame for the Mets to lose because they followed the script that should have worked for them. Their lineup supplied runs. Their bullpen was stingy. It's how the Mets are now built for October. Advertisement But there are still eight weeks left of the regular season. The Mets are 1-3 since the trade deadline. They have lost three of their last four, six of their last seven. There were plenty of questions worth raising on Monday night. None bigger than wondering how good a team they actually are. (Top photo of Sean Manaea: Brad Penner / Imagn Images)
New York Times
44 minutes ago
- New York Times
New York Knicks mailbag: Giannis watch and could Ben Simmons be a serious option?
The NBA calendar is smack dab in the middle of its most dull period. But, of course, the Knicks remain busy. Last week, the franchise signed Mikal Bridges to a four-year, $150 million extension, keeping New York's core that made the Eastern Conference finals this past season intact for the next few years. New Knicks head coach Mike Brown recently added former Sacramento Kings assistants Riccardo Fois and Charles Allen to his staff and is also eying current Charlotte Hornets assistant coach Chris Jent, per league sources. As for the roster, after signing Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele this offseason, the Knicks still have room to sign a veteran's minimum player and a player on a rookie deal. As we wait to see if New York inks extensions with Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson, let's answer reader questions on the offseason so far and the upcoming season. This is Part 1 of a two-part mailbag. Did the Mikal extension have any connection/correlation with the Giannis (Antetokounmpo) situation in Milwaukee? — @aaron24_8__2 It is my understanding that Leon Rose and company have been monitoring Giannis Antetokounmpo's situation in Milwaukee very closely, even before the offseason started. Many around the league believe the Knicks are interested in star hunting, and while that opportunity hasn't popped up yet, I certainly believe it's in the cards if the right situation presents itself. Advertisement As for the Bridges extension, I don't think it's a coincidence that New York waited this long into the summer to get it done. The Giannis situation has lingered (and is continuing to somewhat linger), but people I've talked to are fairly confident Antetokounmpo will start next season with Milwaukee. I also don't think it's a coincidence that the Knicks signed Bridges to an extension before Aug. 6. A player who signs an extension can't be traded for six months. If Bridges signed his extension on Aug. 6 or later, he wouldn't be eligible to get moved until next summer, as six months from Aug. 6 would take us past the expected February trade deadline. The fact that Bridges signed before then makes him eligible to be traded, if the Knicks choose to do that, before the deadline. I don't believe New York did this because it is without a doubt trading Bridges. I believe Rose and company did this to give themselves some flexibility in the event something — like Giannis wanting out — becomes a possibility. Is Ben Simmons really a serious option the Knicks are considering? They certainly need another playmaker, but I don't know about Ben. — @2lowtech Simmons has been talked about around the Knicks, per league sources, with their minimum roster slot. If you're asking me what I think of the fit, I wouldn't be a fan of the signing. Yes, he'd add some much-needed size to the backcourt. Yes, a defensive lineup of Simmons, Bridges and Anunoby would be intriguing for small portions of a game. However, I'm not a fan of having to have a tailor-made offense for a backup point guard. Simmons' inability to shoot — or even look at the basket — makes it so that Brown couldn't successfully play him with non-shooters like Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson. Giving significant minutes to a guard or wing who isn't willingly looking to score isn't something I'd sign up for. Advertisement New York needs to embrace its five-out spacing this season more than it did last year, and adding someone like Simmons to the rotation makes it trickier to do that. How realistic does it look that the Knicks will offer Mitchell Robinson an extension/new deal with the second apron? — @HerlihyRobert To me, the Robinson situation has more to do with New York's uncertainty about whether the oft-injured big man can stay healthy. As things stand now, Robinson is extension-eligible. Until he signs an extension, he'll play next season on a $12.9 million expiring contract. There are a couple of ways to look at this situation. Let's start from the Knicks' perspective. Would New York like Robinson back beyond next season? I'm sure it would for the right price. I'm just not sure the Knicks are even willing to give out a contract similar to the one Robinson is currently finishing due to the fact that he hasn't been available for a large part of the last three seasons. The team has to consider its financial situation going forward, and not everyone on the roster can get paid. Furthermore, other teams around the NBA respect Robinson as a player but are frightened by his size and injury history. It might make sense in the Knicks' mind, if they do want to bring him back after this season, to allow him to test the open market next year. It would give them an opportunity — though risky because he'd be an unrestricted free agent — to see what his value is to other teams and potentially get him for cheaper than they would now by signing him to an extension. I get why New York would want to wait. On the flip side, I could also see why Robinson would want to test the open market (even if I'd prefer the security given his injury history). He told us multiple times last season that he's invested more time and money into his body. If he believes he can get through the bulk of a season again without any major injury, that's a positive for him. In addition, Robinson was just one of New York's three most impactful players during a postseason run the franchise hasn't seen in 25 years. If he can do what he did this last postseason over the bulk of next year, that will bode well for him as it pertains to his next contract. Advertisement How this situation plays out will be interesting to monitor over the next 12 months. Who's the backup PG next season? Kolek? Or someone else? — @NewYork4Everr I don't think the Knicks' backup point guard for next season is on the roster yet. I'd be a bit surprised if New York started the year with Tyler Kolek playing behind Jalen Brunson. I'm not sure Kolek's ready for such a big role, considering the Knicks have such lofty expectations for next season. Miles McBride is best utilized as an off-ball guard, in my opinion. However, I wouldn't be stunned if he took on backup point-guard duties next year. I'm expecting New York to use its veteran's minimum spot on the point guard position, with names like Simmons, Malcolm Brogdon, Delon Wright and Monté Morris worth monitoring. (Photo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jalen Brunson: Evan Bernstein / Getty Images)
