Liberty add Emma Meesseman and Stephanie Talbot for championship run

The defending WNBA champion New York Liberty made two moves coming out of last weekend's All-Star break that may prove to be the final pieces to a repeat as they resumed regular-season play Tuesday night.

- By DERREL JOHNSON Special to the AmNews

New York signed 2019 WNBA Finals MVP Emma Meesseman, a 32-year-old, 6-4 center who averaged 15.2 points and 5.6 rebounds in her best statistical season in 2016. The team expects Meesseman to back up starting center and 2024 WNBA Finals MVP Jonquel Jones, who returned to the lineup Tuesday night after being sidelined since June 19 with a right ankle sprain, as the Liberty defeated the Indiana Fever at the Barclays Center 98-84.

Meesseman last played in the WNBA in 2022 for the Chicago Sky and is a two-time FIBA EuroBasket champion and MVP representing her native country Belgium. She is expected to report to the team in early August.

"To finally get the word that she has committed to come here, I think that's pretty special," New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello said. "She's a great player. She was going to help any team that she would go to. There's a comfort level here.”