Breanna Stewart and the New York Liberty couldn’t get it done in their 2026 WNBA preseason opener, falling to Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever 109-91 on their home court at Barclays Center. Now, the Liberty will look to close out the preseason with a win, facing Brittney Griner and the Connecticut Sun on the road on Sunday.
Stewart, just a few days after returning from the EuroLeague championship, led the New York starters against Indiana, tallying 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting and five rebounds. But it was backup center Han Xu who really impressed off the bench, recording a team-high 20 points on 6-of-10 shooting, two rebounds and an assist. But in their final preseason game, the Liberty will be getting some reinforcements.
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Marine Johannes spent several years playing professional basketball in France before going undrafted in 2017. She was later picked up by the Liberty in 2019, appearing in 19 games and averaging 18.2 minutes per contest but did not play in the WNBA over the next two seasons.
Johannes returned to New York for the 2022 season and spent two years with the team. She again sat out the 2024 WNBA season to focus on the Olympics before rejoining the Liberty last season, when she averaged 6.4 points on 39.7% shooting, along with 1.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.
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On Tuesday, just a few days after the Liberty’s loss to the Fever, New York elected to bring back Johannes, re-signing the French guard ahead of the regular season.
“The New York Liberty have re-signed French guard, Marine Johannès!” the Liberty wrote on X. “✍️ WELCOME BACK, MJ🗽.”
Even Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb expressed his excitement for Johannes’ return, hoping to see her full potential unlocked this year.
“Marine has been part of this organization since 2019, and that continuity means a lot to us,” Kolb said. “She brings a unique blend of creativity and shot-making to the floor, and her feel for the game energizes both the team and the fanbase. The coaching staff is eager to help unlock her full potential in the WNBA this season.”
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The Liberty will open the 2026 WNBA regular season on Friday, May 8, once again facing the Sun.
Related: Fever Announce Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham Decision Before Liberty Game
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the WNBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
