Emma Meesseman was rusty to start on Sunday in her first WNBA game since 2022.
But it didn’t matter for the New York Liberty, who rolled to an 87-78 win over the Connecticut Sun to snap a four-game losing streak. Sabrina Ionescu paced the win with a sizzling effort that produced 16 points in the first quarter and 20 by the break.
Advertisement
She finished with a season-high 36 points, 11 rebounds and four assists for her fifth 30-plus point game of the season. Jonquel Jones added 21 points, nine rebounds four assists and two steals. The Liberty played a fourth-straight game without injured All-Star Breanna Stewart.
Meesseman starts slow, finds pace after halftime
The focus Sunday started on two-time All-Star and former Finals MVP Emma Meesseman, who played in her first WNBA game since 2022. Meesseman had since played overseas before signing with the Liberty on July 21, a transaction that further bolstered a star-laden roster seeking to secure the team’s second straight WNBA championship.
Meesseman sat New York’s first six games since joining the team as the Liberty stumbled to a 2-4 start out of the All-Star break. But she was in the starting lineup Sunday as New York looked to snap its skid against a five-win Sun team with the worst record in the league.
Advertisement
The Liberty immediately got Meesseman involved with a look inside on their first possession. But she missed a layup on the game’s first field-goal attempt, then missed a floater in the lane moments later en route to a scoreless first half without another field-goal attempt.
But Meesseman found her rhythm after halftime with an and-1 layup and made free throw for her first WNBA points since 2022 that extended New York’s lead to 52-43.
She finished with 11 points and three assists while shooting 3 of 7 from the field in 17 minutes. It added up to an encouraging start to her Liberty career as New York looks to re-establish itself as a championship favorite.
Advertisement
This story will be updated.
