The Liberty have been keen on Spanish forward/center Raquel Carrera for quite some time.
But Carrera decided this was the right moment to step into the WNBA.
“I think it’s a good time for me. I’ve bounced back from my ACL injury two years ago, so I’m in a good place,” Carrera expressed after practice on Saturday. “This feels like the moment. I’m truly excited to be here.”
Selected by the Dream at the 19th overall pick in the 2021 WNBA Draft, Carrera focused on improving her skills overseas after that. Eventually, the Liberty obtained her rights in 2022. She faced another setback with an ACL injury in March 2024, which might explain her delayed entry into the league.
Despite that, Carrera is optimistic about the Liberty’s chances this season, especially after winning the Spanish league with Valencia and showcasing her best performance yet.
“I genuinely believe we have a strong team that can contend for a championship,” said Carrera, who recently signed a one-year, $270,000 contract with the Liberty. “I’m really looking forward to getting started.”
She joined the Liberty’s practice on Saturday and is set to make her WNBA debut against the Dallas Wings on Sunday.
Her recruitment enhances the Liberty’s frontcourt, which lacked depth last season. Carrera can play both power forward and center roles. Her attributes—size, length, versatility—along with her ability to stretch the floor, make her a great fit for coach Chris DeMarco’s approach.
“She’s coming off a championship and has been performing well,” DeMarco noted. “Her game awareness is impressive, she plays hard, and she’s a solid defender. We’re excited about what she adds to our team.”
In other news, Anneli Mailey is back on the Liberty’s roster.
The Australian forward, who quickly won over Liberty fans during the preseason, secured a developmental player contract announced on Saturday. Mailey takes the place of fellow Australian Alex Fowler, who was released by the team on Friday.
Mailey’s relentless rebounding and confident play stood out during training camp, where she amassed 26 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists in two preseason games.
Although she got waived before the season started, she had signed a developmental contract with the Mercury before being released earlier this week.
Mailey expressed her happiness about returning to New York, stating, “I feel incredibly lucky to experience so many different opportunities. It’s a challenge to navigate being exempt and then not, but what’s the alternative?”
“I’m determined to make the roster, even if it means getting waived and picked up multiple times. It’s tough on my mental and physical health, but I’m pushing through.”
