Emma Meesseman gives Liberty everything they hoped for in win

Liberty forward Emma Meesseman was beaming Tuesday night as she stood near center court and looked at the jubilant scene unfolding around her.

She had just taken a team picture with actor and New York sports fanatic Ben Stiller after the Liberty beat the Wings 85-76. Her teammates stood proudly in a fortified line behind her as she did a brief postgame interview over the Barclays Center speakers.

At one point, Natasha Cloud skipped around the edges of the court, leading the crowd in a chorus of “Emma” chants.

The whole thing was overwhelming for Meesseman. But at the same time, this experience was a big reason why she decided to return to the WNBA after a 2 ½ -year hiatus.

“That’s one of the things I’m gonna remember,” Meesseman said after a brief cooldown period. “Never have I thought that a gym like Barclays Center was going to do that for me. I’m just playing basketball from Belgium. I’ve been doing what I love and then this is result of it. So I’m really going to remember it. So I’m really grateful for that, for the fans and seeing all that.”

It might have been only Meesseman’s second full day in New York City and second game she played with the Liberty, but everything that the team had hoped would happen with the addition of the 6-foot-4 Belgian star is coming to fruition.

It’s early in her tenure, and the Liberty are still down three key players, but Meesseman has shown glimpses of the ways she can unlock another level to this team on both ends of the floor.

Defensively, Meesseman is another true rim protector, who can switch one through four. She can use her length to disrupt passing lanes and block shots.

Cloud encouraged reporters next time they see Meesseman to “tell her to put her hand up and see how big her hands actually are.”

“They’re like mitts, bro,” said Cloud, who had 12 points and six assists. “[Meesseman] just adds a lot of versatility to an already big Liberty roster.”

Meesseman can do a lot of good things within the offense, too — including high-low actions, pick-and-pops, precision passes and more. She finished with 13 points, three rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots in her second game.

Neither Cloud nor Sabrina Ionescu are surprised at how well and quickly Meesseman has managed to mesh with the Liberty.

“That’s why we really wanted her here,” Ionescu said. “It’s more just reassuring knowing that she came in, and this is what she’s done in her first two games. It hasn’t really been any transition period, it’s been like this is Liberty basketball and you fit in.”

Part of what’s helped the transition is the fact the Liberty’s read-and-react offense is similar to European-style basketball. Ionescu said her game is similar to Meesseman because they’re both based on fundamentals and reading defenses well.

Though Ionescu hadn’t played with Meesseman prior, she said the two have discussed in length different scenarios on the court and have started to learn each other’s tendencies and skills.

“It’s been pretty fun so far,” Ionescu said, “just continuing to kind of see it form on the court with literally not one practice.”

Meesseman said her familiarity having played with or against half the team has helped her feel more comfortable, especially Jones who had 15 points and 10 rebounds Tuesday.

“It makes me feel [like I could] fit in a little faster,” Meesseman said. “It didn’t really take a long time with her to feel that chemistry again [with Jones]. … It feels so familiar.”

The Liberty improved to 19-10 on the season and remained second in the standings behind the Lynx. The Wings fell to 8-22 and are taking up residence in the league cellar along with the Sky and Sun.

The Liberty get a much-needed two days off before traveling to Dallas to play the Wings for the final time this season Friday.