Liberty confirm Emma Meesseman debut, jersey number amid marquee signing

The New York Liberty has announced the free agent acquisition of Belgium forward Emma Meesseman, a former WNBA Finals MVP and one of the world's most accomplished basketball players.

Meesseman, 32, is returning to the WNBA after three years in Turkey, where she played for Fenerbahce. During this interval, the 6'4'' forward won three EuroLeague MVP awards and two EuroLeague titles -- bringing her career total to six. A five-time All-EuroLeague First Team selection, Meesseman returns to The W seeking her second career title with the defending champion Liberty.

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The Liberty confirmed Meesseman will wear the number 33 jersey that she wore during her previous WNBA stops in Washington and Chicago. The Mystics drafted Meesseman 19th overall in 2013 and watched her become an All-Star two years later; she averaged 19.3 points per game during the 2019 playoffs and was named Finals MVP as Washington won the WNBA championship.

Meesseman was named an All-Star for the second time in 2022, during her lone season with the Sky. The versatile forward shot a career-best 57 percent from the field while averaging 12.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game for a Chicago team that boasted a league-best 26-10 record.

Nearly three years since her last WNBA game, Meesseman will debut for the Liberty on Friday night against the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena.

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