Emma Meesman was well aware of her role from the start.
She anticipated contributing to the reigning champions, who have been struggling with injuries this season. More than that, she knew she’d have to adapt as a flexible part of the team.
Since her debut in New York on August 3rd, Meesman has been sidelined alongside two-time MVP Breanna Stewart due to a knee issue.
With Stewart back for Monday’s close 81-79 win against the Connecticut Sun, coach Sandy Brondello opted to bring Meesman off the bench while Kennedy Burke started.
Brondello explained, “She wasn’t fitting in with the core three—Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Jonquel Jones.”
Meesman, however, didn’t mind the decision too much.
“I don’t want to disrupt their flow,” she remarked.
It’s a balancing act for Meesman—she’s trying to blend into the established chemistry while also figuring out her teammates’ playing styles. A lot of her adjustment happened during the games themselves, as injuries had led to a rotating lineup, making practice invaluable.
In the game against the Sun, Meesman played for just two minutes alongside Stewart, Ionescu, and Jones. Everyone seems to believe that will change as the season progresses with six games left.
Stewart, returning from injury with limited minutes, noted it was tricky for her to integrate back into the flow, especially since she hadn’t been playing regularly for 21 minutes.
Yet, she expressed excitement about the potential synergy between her and Meesman.
“Of course, we need to see what we can do together,” Brondello added. “It seems promising, but we still need the experience to learn. She’s doing well, keeping up, though it might be more challenging than she expected. But she definitely helps us and makes things feel more settled.”
During Wednesday’s practice, the two All-Stars and the 2019 Finals MVP shared time between the starters and the second unit.
Communication is key to speeding up Meesman’s integration.
“You know, when you’re in a huddle or face-to-face, if something feels off, we talk about it,” Meesman shared. “I think we did pretty well at that. I didn’t feel completely lost… I think, generally speaking, I’ve been able to hold my own.”
While she was out, Stewart took part in an in-person CBA meeting in early August as the Vice President of the WNBA Players Association.
Her thoughts? “It wasn’t great.”
“I want to convey my perspective as a player and help them understand where we’re coming from,” Stewart said.
Natasha Cloud, dealing with a nose fracture, participated in practice and is a possibility for Thursday’s game.
Nyara Sabally, who has been sidelined with a knee issue, did not appear on the injury report after fully practicing on Wednesday.
