Anneli Meiley’s Return to Training Camp
After just three days back from a brief playing stint in China, Anneli Meiley is on her way to New York for the Liberty’s training camp.
The Australian guard had the opportunity to play a game for the Perth Redbacks in NBL1, and she almost opted to take a break at home.
“I didn’t plan on playing,” Meiley mentioned on Tuesday. “But then I thought, ‘Hey, it could be fun.’ And it actually was.”
And it really was fun. Meiley set a new single-game scoring record, racking up an impressive 65 points while shooting at 72.4 percent. She also hit 4 of her 7 three-point attempts, along with 17 rebounds and five assists.
Her performance was dominant; she looked much more confident and polished than she had a few years back when her scoring didn’t quite reflect her rebounding and defense skills.
Now, there’s palpable excitement as the Liberty prepares for training camp this week, where Meiley will once again vie for a position in the WNBA.
While the Liberty’s roster feels largely established, Meiley might compete for the final developmental spot. She has signed a training camp contract, which is essentially a one-year minimum contract that isn’t guaranteed.
However, for her to officially join, the Liberty would need to release her, and she has to clear a waiver before they can finalize the new developmental agreement mandated by the recent collective bargaining agreement.
Every WNBA team has two development slots, and French point guard Marine Fortwo has already secured one for the Liberty.
Meiley has previously been invited to WNBA training camps, including one with the Chicago Sky in 2023, and she appreciates the chance to return.
She emphasized that this time she wants to remain true to herself.
“Scoring isn’t my main focus, because I play with intensity,” she said. “I excel at rebounding and I’m a hustle player. I leave everything on the court. I want to outwork everyone, and I hope my personality shows through that.”
Additionally, she’s excited to share the court with former Oregon teammates Sabrina Ionescu and Sato Sabally.
“They’re amazing people,” Meiley reflected, recalling her time at Oregon during the 2017-18 season. “I really struggled in college. It wasn’t easy, so I spent a lot of time on the bench watching them shine. It’s quite surreal to be on the same court with them nine years later, especially after all they’ve accomplished. It’s kind of wild that I’m still playing in the league after those college years.”
