The Phoenix Mercury enter Barclays Center tonight with one mission in mind: keep their championship hopes alive. But standing in their way is a New York Liberty squad that not only holds the home-court advantage but also carries the swagger of defending champions. The Liberty’s championship trio of Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Jonquel Jones has shifted into playoff gear at just the right time. Natasha Cloud has added another punch, dropping 23 points against her former team to prove her worth on the biggest stage. Yet, in the middle of all the highlight-reel performances, one player continues to shine in her own quiet, steady way: Emma Meesseman.

The 2019 WNBA Champion and Finals MVP doesn’t dazzle with flash anymore. But what she brings is just as valuable: championship-tested experience. Averaging double-digit points and five-plus rebounds for over a decade, Meesseman is the type of player most teams would start without question. For New York, she comes off the bench, which speaks volumes about their depth. And as the Liberty chase back-to-back titles, Meesseman is doing more than just putting up numbers. She’s passing on her wisdom to the locker room, reinforcing why this squad is built for championships.

Meesseman may not always make the loudest noise, but her impact on the New York Liberty is undeniable. In just 13 minutes against Phoenix, the Belgian veteran pulled down eight rebounds. It’s her highest mark in a playoff game since 2019. But her influence stretches beyond the stat sheet. When asked about the secret to the Liberty’s locker room success, the 2019 Finals MVP revealed that her communication style relies more on timing than volume. “I think if I see something, I’ll rather say it face-to-face, or if it has to be said in the locker room, I’ll probably say it. But I’m more like bringing the experience to the individual players. Like ‘I think you can get that’ or ‘we can fix this,’ more in that way throughout the whole game,” she said.

Meesseman explained further that she doesn’t feel the need to repeat what others have already said in the huddle. Everyone usually sees the same issues and addresses them quickly. So she prefers to add only when there’s something extra to contribute. For her, it’s all about being efficient with her voice and making it count. When the New York Liberty signed Emma Meesseman, General Manager Jonathan Kolb called her “one of the most skilled, intelligent, and unselfish players in the world,” and she has lived up to the billing ever since.

With New York, she’s averaging about 13.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 25.9 minutes per game. With over 50 percent field goal percentage and 85+ free throw percentage, Meesseman shows she doesn’t force bad shots.  That experience of not forcing bad shots, she believes, comes from her time playing in multiple playoffs in Europe. Meesseman is a six-time EuroLeague Champion and a two-time EuroBasket champion, showing she has the tools for big game plays.

This knowledge is what she wants to impart to her teammates. Talking about it, she advised, “Just experience, you know, I think it’s making me and us more ready for the pressure that comes with it. That you’re not like blinded by the spotlights, blinded by the attention, blinded by the pressure that’s being put on you.”

Meesseman continues, “I think that’s more so it, instead of like tactics or basketball… because it is a big moment and it’s not always easy to cope with it. How do you handle yourself? How do you prepare yourself? I think it’s more so in that way that it helped me now. Because when I was 20 years old, I may have been like paralyzed. There was one playoff where I was just not making shots, not having confidence. I think we’ve all been there at some point, so I think that’s not going to happen anymore.” And her team needs her experience in game two of round one, as their star player faces an injury scare.

Emma Meesseman needs to step up as an injury looms for Breanna Stewart

The New York Liberty’s march through the playoffs may hit a serious bump if Breanna Stewart can’t take the court. As the defending champs prepare for Game 2 vs the Phoenix Mercury, Stewart’s participation is up in the air. She sat out practice, skipped media availability, and has been labeled a “game-time decision” by Coach Sandy Brondello. Stewart recently underwent an MRI, but the team has offered little clarity. Beyond saying the scans were “relatively clean,” their response only raised more questions from fans and analysts alike.

By the morning of September 17, 2025, Stewart confirmed to reporters after the team’s shootaround that she plans to play in Game 2, despite a sprained MCL in her left knee. She participated in the shootaround, and while officially listed as questionable, her intent to suit up was clear, with comments like “my plan is to go” and details on managing pain.

Stewart’s health isn’t just a concern; it has ripple effects for New York’s playoff identity. She missed 13 games earlier in the season due to a bone bruise. Plus, she underwent a knee-clean up in March. If she sits, the Liberty will need others to fill both scoring and interior presence against a frontcourt-strong Phoenix roster (Sabally, Mack, Alyssa Thomas). Depth becomes more than just a luxury; it’s a necessity. And in moments like these, having an experienced player like Emma Meesseman does wonders.

However, Meesseman is not the last hope of New York. The Liberty roster boasts a lot of depth. Coach Brondello may lean on Kennedy Burke to start. Or she gives Isabelle Harrison more minutes off the bench to shore up the paint. In times of need, Meesseman can shuffle in to provide support. Still, none of these moves offers a perfect replacement. At the end of the day, the Liberty is walking a fine line between risking their star’s health and preserving championship momentum. As one analyst put it: “If she’s only relatively healthy, is it worth it?”