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.  

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.”

There’s a reunion of sorts here, too. Brondello coached Meesseman at the Russian club UMMC Ekaterinburg nearly a decade ago. She added that Meesseman is a great and intelligent player, and is excited to land her. 

“I think she will fit into the system very easily with the way that we play as a team at both ends of the floor,” Brondello added.

With the new addition, the Liberty have four of the last seven WNBA Finals MVPs on the roster with Jones (2024), Meesseman (2019) and Breanna Stewart (2018 and 2020).

The Liberty also acquired 6-foot two-inch forward Stephanie Talbot, 31, who played 16 games this season for the Golden State Valkyries earlier this season.

“Steph was waved from a team and we were the team that was able to, to pick her up so happy about that. It’s been a smooth transition,” Brondello said.

Jones had an immediate impact for the Liberty in her return, scoring a team-high 18 points and grabbing nine rebounds against the Caitlin Clark-less Indiana Fever. Stewart and forward Leonie Fiebich added 17. 

“It felt great to be back out there,” Jones said afterward. “Obviously, it’s a while since I’ve been on the court, but my teammates have held it down while I was out…”

Brondello was ecstatic to have the team’s anchor in the fold once again. “It’s a happy day, (Jonquel Jones is) back; she’s worked really hard, excited to integrate her back into the team,” she said before the game. 

Clark sat out with a right groin injury sustained on July 15 versus the Connecticut Sun. Tuesday was the 11th game Clark has missed this season due to injury. The Fever fell to 12-12 after the loss to the Liberty while New York improved to 16-6, second best in the WNBA behind the Lynx, which were 21-4 when the league’s schedule tipped off last night.

New York hosts a rare home back-to-back at Barclays Center, beginning tomorrow against the Phoenix Mercury and Saturday against the Los Angeles Sparks.  The Liberty travel to Dallas to play the Wings on Monday and will face the team they defeated in the Finals last year, the Minnesota Lynx, on the road on Wednesday. 

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