Between injuries and overall poor performance, the New York Liberty were at a loss, on and off the court.
It wasn’t until recent additions Stephanie Talbot and Emma Meesseman showed up that the Barclays Center lit up once again. In the Liberty’s most recent game against Dallas, the pair made massive contributions to the victory.
Welcome to New York
How it Began
Emma Meesseman was drafted by the Washington Mystics in 2013 and stayed there for seven seasons. In Meesseman’s time there, she won the 2019 championship, was named finals MVP, and has been named an All-Star twice. Later on, she transitioned to the Chicago Sky for one season and then left the W for three years to focus on playing for her home country, Belgium.
Why the Liberty?
When Emma chose to make her way back to the United States, she made the executive decision to join a team that not only had high hopes for back-to-back championships but that also felt like home. Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb stated to the press, “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.”
Brooklyn Loves the Belgium
In Meesseman’s debut game at the Liberty’s home court, the Barclays Center, she put on a performance to remember.
With 13 points, three rebounds, two assists, and two blocks, Meesseman automatically blended into the Liberty’s way of doing things without having even one official practice yet. She rediscovered her chemistry with Jonquel Jones pretty early on, as they had played together before.
Sabrina Ionescu, on the other hand, had never played with Meesseman, yet just a few off-court conversations helped the two learn each other’s playing styles and lead the team to victory. The cherry on top of what was already a successful night for Emma Meesseman was Natasha Cloud rallying up the crowd to chant the newcomer’s name.
Talbot’s Time to Shine
Although Stephanie Talbot has been with the Liberty for a short time longer than Meesseman, she is breaking out of her shell more and more every game.
Against Dallas, Talbot tallied 13 points, three rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello had previously coached Talbot on Team Australia and was able to see her full potential and how she would fit into New York.
After going 3-4 behind the three-point line against Dallas, Talbot acknowledges her gradual increase in strong performance.
Before ending the night, she told the press, “I’m slowly getting more and more comfortable playing with these players. I think I’ve had maybe two trainings, so it’s like, trying to find my rhythm in games is kind of tough.”
The Duo We Never Knew We Needed
As the season progresses, and the Liberty are left with a roster of injured players, Emma Meesseman and Stephanie Talbot are ready to go.
The pair has been making great contributions to the team now, so imagine what will happen once they can have some official quality team practices.
Have the Liberty solved the rough streak of losses? Maybe Meesseman and Talbot are the cure.
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