When Leonie Fiebich arrived in New York, she was expected to be another major boost for the defending champions. Coming off an impressive rookie season, capped by a historic 21-point playoff debut and a Spanish League title with Valencia, her return seemed a perfect blend with Liberty.

So the team welcomed her back just in time for their championship ring ceremony, celebrating her arrival after weeks of overseas commitments. But while she returned, the Liberty already knew it was only temporary. And well, the time is here now.

Leonie Fiebich is ready to don a different jersey with pride

That’s because the German forward is already preparing to leave again, this time to represent her country in the upcoming EuroBasket tournament.

The 16-team event is critical for European national teams as it serves as a qualifier for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup and, ultimately, the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. That’s a dream few players are willing to give up, even if it means sacrificing a significant portion of the WNBA season. “It means so much to represent your country,” said Valkyries’ Cecilia Zandalasini, echoing a sentiment shared by many EuroBasket athletes.

But Fiebich’s absence doesn’t come without a cost, quite literally. It’s because Liberty has temporarily suspended her contract. But this move isn’t a punishment, it’s a strategy. Well, a temporary suspension allows WNBA teams to remove international players from their active roster without waiving them, giving the front office the flexibility to sign short-term replacements while keeping the players’ rights.

In other words, Fiebich will still belong to the Liberty, she’s just not taking up a roster spot while she’s overseas. And given how many players have been dealing with injuries or international obligations this season, the Liberty couldn’t afford to keep her slot idle. Temporarily suspending her, opened the door to bring in reinforcements if needed.

But was this temporary suspension really needed?

As Leonie Fiebich departs from the Liberty to join the German National Team for the EuroBasket tournament, which runs from June 18 to 29, the team has already put a backup plan in place. And, that plan is Kennedy Burke – a proven scorer and elite defender, who will fill the void. So, clearly, the temporary suspension of Fiebich doesn’t seem necessary, especially with Burke stepping up.

But once you look at the broader picture, particularly the list of international players expected to leave before the 2025 campaign, the decision starts to make more sense. At one point, three Liberty players were expected to miss time due to EuroBasket commitments: Marine Johannès, Leonie Fiebich, and Nyara Sabally.

However, two of those three players ultimately chose to stay. For German center Nyara Sabally, the decision to withdraw from EuroBasket was rooted in long-term priorities. The 25-year-old cited health concerns as the main reason, especially after missing six consecutive games this season due to a knee issue.

“It is not easy for me,” Sabally said in a statement translated from German to English. “But given the rehabilitation for my knee, the intensive EuroBasket schedule, and the tight WNBA calendar, I have to prioritize my health with a view to my long-term goals with the national team. I wish everyone who competes for Germany at EuroBasket much success.”

Sabally made her return in the recent matchup against the Chicago Sky, notching a season-high nine points. Then, French native Marine Johannès opted to sit out, too. While her exact reason remains unclear, it appears she, too, is prioritizing her health at this time.

So initially, when it looked like the Liberty would lose three core international contributors, the team made the logical move to temporarily suspend their contracts to create flexibility. And now, even though only Fiebich is officially out, the suspension still offers strategic value, especially in a physical league like the WNBA, where injuries are always lurking around the corner. From Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, Paige Bueckers, to Liberty’s own, Jonquel Jones— we have seen them all.