Emma Meesman Reflects on Liberty’s Struggles
ATLANTA — Emma Meesman recently played her 10th game with Liberty, yet her performance during the first three weeks hasn’t met her expectations or those of the organization.
Since joining the team on August 1st, the Liberty have recorded a 5-5 record.
Meesman has consistently scored in double digits, except for one game, posting an average of 13.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game.
Despite her individual accomplishments, Meesman feels the team’s overall performance falls short of where it should be. “I’m really focused on the results. It’s always a tough game,” she shared. “Sometimes it feels like we’re complicating things for ourselves, so we shouldn’t be too satisfied with our wins.”
After almost three years away from the league, Meesman decided to return this summer, aiming to help Liberty defend their 2024 title amid the league’s rising popularity.
Joining a mid-season team presents challenges for any player, even for someone with Meesman’s experience.
However, injuries within the team have made her integration even trickier.
She’s mostly faced off against the original roster, although she’s familiar with head coach Sandy Brondello and assistant coaches Olaf Lange and Andrew Wade.
Still, she’s getting accustomed to playing alongside new teammates. “I know my style, and initially, I was able to bring that to the court, but we’re still trying to build chemistry,” Meesman mentioned. “That said, I can’t really make excuses anymore. I just don’t have all the answers right now.”
Even with Meesman onboard, the Liberty continue to tackle recurring problems.
Currently, a negative pattern prevails: they struggle with rebounding and allowing opponents too many second-chance points.
The way they lose possession through poor execution on the boards is impacting their chances for a repeat championship.
“I know we need to perform well to secure wins,” Meesman stated. “But I believe we should be able to work through these issues, and it’s clear that just talking won’t cut it anymore.”
