Emma Meesseman has been cleared to play for two weeks now, but that didn’t stop her from criticizing her new team after yet another disappointing loss.
The former WNBA Finals MVP expressed that the Liberty fell apart in the 83-71 defeat against the Lynx, driven by self-inflicted errors, a lack of execution, and some uncoordinated play.
This marked the team’s second loss against the Lynx this season, who played with a level of intensity and intention that Liberty struggled to match. The reigning champions really put Liberty’s resilience to the test in the second half.
Liberty committed 13 of their 20 turnovers in the final 20 minutes. Many of these were, frankly, avoidable mistakes.
“We could have done a better job paying attention to detail,” Meesseman commented. “Whether it was getting the ball to the open side or just being on the same page, these are basic things. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to revisit the fundamentals we learned as kids.”
Meesseman, despite missing players like Breanna Stewart, Kennedy Burke, and Nyara Sabally, believes the main issues lie beyond their absence.
“As I mentioned, it’s about training and focusing on the little things. We need to make the right passes, cut with purpose, and maintain our intensity,” she said. “No matter who’s on the court, it’s all about that effort. You can’t practice effort; we just have to go out there and give it our all.”
At 32, Meesseman is no stranger to the ups and downs of the league. Though she’s won a title in the past and competed as a champion, she’s also experienced being part of a team that didn’t meet expectations, like when she played for the Sky and faced an unexpected semi-final exit in 2022.
Having played just four games with the Liberty, she’s still trying to find her rhythm with the team.
“I’m still observing how everyone interacts and what each player needs individually,” Meesseman shared.
Currently, the Liberty holds a 20-11 record, tied for second place in the standings, but trailing behind Minnesota by six and a half games.
With only 13 games left, including an upcoming match in Los Angeles, the gap for contending playoff spots could be challenging to bridge.
What’s more pressing for the Liberty is ensuring that they’re fully healthy by the time the playoffs arrive, rather than concentrating solely on their seed.
But is this more forward-thinking approach actually working against them? There have been moments of passivity, particularly during last week’s rough third quarter against Dallas.
Liberty aimed to start strong against the Lynx but lost their foothold as the game progressed. They needed to land the first punch and maintain their momentum, which they initially did.
Yet, the Lynx responded with their own surge as Liberty seemed to ease up.
“We got off to a good start, but we didn’t finish strong,” Meesseman remarked.
“You know, nothing comes easy in this league. You have to push yourselves and hold one another accountable to keep up that intensity and discipline.”
