Emma Meesseman: Aiming for Improvement with the Liberty

ATLANTA — Emma Meesseman has hit a milestone, playing her 10th game with the New York Liberty. However, the team’s performance over the past three weeks has not met expectations, as they stand at a record of 5-5 since her signing on August 1.

Individual Success Amid Team Struggles

Meesseman’s individual stats tell a different story. She has scored in double digits in all but one game, averaging 13.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists. Despite her strong performance, she remains focused on the overall results, expressing dissatisfaction with the team’s inconsistency.

“I’m just looking at the results, and it’s always a tough game. I feel like we’re making it very hard on ourselves sometimes,” Meesseman stated. “I don’t think we should be too happy with just having a win.”

The Challenges of Midseason Integration

Returning to the WNBA this summer after a nearly three-year break, Meesseman aimed to contribute to the Liberty’s title defense. However, joining a new team midseason can be challenging, even for a seasoned player like her.

• Familiarity: While she has previously competed with many Liberty players and has strong ties with Head Coach Sandy Brondello and her staff, integration is still complex.
• Injuries: The Liberty have faced injuries that have made it difficult for Meesseman to find her rhythm and build chemistry with her teammates.

“We keep losing pieces… There’s no excuses at this point, but I don’t know. There’s no answer,” Meesseman reflected.

Persistent Issues Hindering Performance

Despite Meesseman’s presence, the Liberty continue to face ongoing challenges. They struggle notably with:

• Rebounding: The team has difficulty controlling the boards, allowing opponents too many opportunities to capitalize on offensive rebounds.
• Turnovers: Careless mistakes are proving detrimental to their gameplay.

Meesseman emphasizes the importance of these elements for success:

“You have to be good in those [areas] in order to win. But I’m confident we should be able to overcome it. It’s not enough to just talk about it; we know this, but I don’t have the solution at this point.”

Conclusion: The Road Ahead for the Liberty

With the Liberty facing challenges both individually and collectively, the upcoming games will be pivotal for their playoff aspirations. Fans will be hoping Emma Meesseman can leverage her experience and skills to help the team regain its footing and push towards success.

For continuous updates on the Liberty, consider subscribing to Madeline Kenney’s Inside the Liberty newsletter. It’s tailored for devoted fans wanting in-depth analysis and the latest news surrounding the team.

With strategic adjustments and a focus on team dynamics, the Liberty still have time to turn their season around as they pursue glory on the court.