NEW YORK (AP) — Emma Meesseman, the 2019 WNBA Finals MVP who last played in the league in 2022, is joining the New York Liberty.
The timing of the arrival of the 32-year-old from Belgium in the U.S. will be determined by how long it takes to get her visa, New York general manager Jonathan Kolb told reporters Tuesday morning.
“It's too early to say right now, we're going to try and do it as quickly as possible,” Kolb said.
Kolb said that a contract hasn't been signed yet, but Meeseeman committed to joining the franchise. New York has a busy second half of the season with 23 games left over the next few months.
The two-time All-Star, who helped the Washington Mystics win the 2019 title, has been focused on leading the Belgium national team since her last season in the WNBA, which she spent with the Chicago Sky. Meesseman played with Natasha Cloud, whom New York acquired in the offseason, in Washington when the Mystics won their championship six years ago.
Meesseman helped Belgium win the EuroBasket title last month to qualify for next year's World Cup.
She joins a stacked New York team with Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones and Sabrina Ionescu that won its first championship last year. The 6-foot-4 forward also considered Minnesota and Phoenix. The Liberty currently sit second in the standings, 3 1/2 games behind the Lynx.
Meesseman has dominated overseas in her time away from the WNBA. She was named the EuroBasket MVP twice in the past three years. And she helped Belgium reach the medal round at the Paris Olympics before it lost to France in overtime in the semifinals and then Australia in the bronze-medal game.
Meesseman has played with many of the New York players before either overseas or on other WNBA teams which will help in her acclimation to the team.
New York signed Australian forward Stephanie Talbot earlier Monday. She was waived by Golden State last week.
AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
Belgium's Emma Meesseman, centre, tries to score against Spain, during the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 final match between Spain and Belgium at the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Piraeus near Athens, Greece, Sunday, June 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
Belgium's Emma Meesseman, center, tries to score against Spain's Andrea Vilaro, during the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 final match between Spain and Belgium at the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Piraeus near Athens, Greece, Sunday, June 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
NEW YORK (AP) — Tyrese Maxey scored 30 points, VJ Edgecombe had 23 and the Philadelphia 76ers became just the second visiting team to win at Madison Square Garden this season, beating the New York Knicks 116-107 on Friday night.
Andre Drummond, starting with Joel Embiid out because of an illness and right knee injury management, had 14 points and 13 rebounds. The center was 3 for 4 from 3-point range.
The 76ers snapped the Knicks' six-game winning streak by outscoring them 28-20 in the fourth quarter, when Maxey scored 11 points and Jalen Brunson missed all five of his shots and was scoreless.
Brunson finished with 22 points, nine assists and six rebounds, but shot 7 for 22 a night after making the go-ahead 3-pointer with 4.4 seconds left in a victory at Indiana. Karl-Anthony Towns also scored 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
In their first home game since winning the NBA Cup on Tuesday, the Knicks fell to 13-2 at home. They had been off to their best start at MSG since 1992-93.
They celebrated the Cup title before the game, though they have chosen not to hang a banner to commemorate it, as previous champions the Lakers and Bucks did.
The Knicks wasted Mitchell Robinson's best game of the season. The center had season highs of 21 points and 16 rebounds and was a stunning 7 for 8 at the free-throw line after he came into the game 6 for 27 (22.2%) for the season.
Mikal Bridges also scored 21 points.
Maxey and Edgecombe combined for 18 points in the fourth quarter after the 76ers led by one going into the period. The Knicks were 1 for 8 on 3s in the quarter.
76ers: Host Dallas on Saturday.
Knicks: Host Miami on Sunday.
This story has been corrected to show that Andre Drummond scored 14 points. A previous version said he had 19.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby, left, dribbles around Philadelphia 76ers forward Jabari Walker, middle, and center Adam Bona, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns, left, dribbles past Philadelphia 76ers forward Dominick Barlow during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, right, dribbles around Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
Philadelphia 76ers forward Justin Edwards falls into the lap of former tennis player John McEnroe, left, in red hat, during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
New York Knicks guard Josh Hart, left, and forward OG Anunoby, right, defend against Philadelphia 76ers forward Dominick Barlow, middle, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
