Latest news with #SandyBrondello
New York Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Two-time All-Star Emma Meesseman to sign with New York Liberty in WNBA return: Source
Two-time WNBA All-Star Emma Meesseman has committed to signing with the New York Liberty, a league source confirmed to The Athletic, bringing the European star back to the league for the first time since 2022. When exactly Meesseman will suit up for New York remains uncertain, as her arrival will be subject to the length of time it takes for her visa application to be processed, the source said. ESPN was first to report Meesseman's return. Advertisement Meesseman, according to league sources, also considered signing with the Minnesota Lynx and Phoenix Mercury before deciding on New York. Although Meesseman, a 2019 WNBA Finals MVP with the Washington Mystics, last played in the U.S. over two seasons ago, she has been arguably the best player in Europe in recent years. Meesseman led the Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahçe to EuroLeague championships in 2023 and 2024, and she won EuroLeague MVP honors in each of the past three years. She also led the Paris Olympics in scoring in 2024. Meesseman waited to sign with a WNBA franchise until after the conclusion of the June EuroBasket tournament. She led Belgium to the title after a ferocious comeback in the game's waning minutes, earning not only another title for her native country but also tournament MVP honors. 'We would love to have her, if that's something that she's interested in,' Liberty coach Sandy Brondello told reporters on July 8. 'That would certainly help us, an experienced post player.' Brondello previously coached Meesseman at the Russian club UMMC Ekaterinburg, with the two overlapping in 2016 and 2017. Brondello's top assistant in New York, Olaf Lange, was also on the UMMC coaching staff and has familiarity with the Belgian forward. How she fits with New York is worth watching, as the Liberty frontcourt has been led by former league MVPs Stewart and Jonquel Jones, who is expected to return to play from her recent ankle injury Tuesday. Nevertheless, Meesseman is also comfortable playing alongside both players. Stewart and Jones both played with Meesseman in Ekaterinburg, and more recently, Stewart played alongside Meesseman at Fenerbahçe during the 2022-23 season. 'Emma's an amazing player,' Stewart said in early July. 'She's someone who reads the game really well. For a team that wants to play read and react, and play fast, she'd be a perfect fit for us.' Advertisement Meesseman averaged 12.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game during her season with the Chicago Sky in 2022. The Liberty begin the second half 15-6 on the season, the second-best record in the WNBA. New York also announced it signed veteran forward Stephanie Talbot on Monday morning. The Liberty play the Indiana Fever on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.
Reuters
a day ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Liberty sign free agent F Stephanie Talbot
July 21 - The New York Liberty signed veteran forward Stephanie Talbot on Monday. The 31-year-old was waived last week by the first-year Golden State Valkyries. The Mercury selected the 6-foot-2 Australia native in the third round of the 2014 WNBA Draft, but she did not play stateside until the 2017 season, her first of two with Phoenix. She later played with the Minnesota Lynx (2019), Seattle Storm (2021-22) and Los Angeles Sparks (2024). The Sparks left her unprotected in the expansion draft, and she was selected by the Valkyries. In 16 games (10 starts) with Golden State, Talbot averaged 3.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists over 16.8 minutes per game. In 215 WNBA games (72 starts), she has averages of 4.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists. She is a career 35.2 percent shooter from long range. She played under current Liberty coach Sandy Brondello when Brondello coached the Mercury as well as with the Australian national team. --Field Level Media
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Caitlin Clark wants to sir to pot at WNBA All Star Game
Caitlin Clark couldn't suit up for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game, but that didn't stop her from trying to stir things up in Indianapolis. Even off the court, Caitlin Clark finds a way to steal the spotlight Sidelined with a groin injury she picked up against the Connecticut Sun, the Indiana Fever's standout guard had to sit this one out. Instead of playing, she took on a new role — co-coaching 'Team Clark' alongside Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello. Clark had some fun with it, trading players and even swapping coaches with Team Collier captain Napheesa Collier. The Fever's Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell also landed on her roster. MORE: Kelsey Mitchell takes over for Caitlin Clark at WNBA All-Star Game But even in street clothes, Clark wasn't about to play it safe. Speaking on ESPN's 'WNBA Countdown,' she hinted at some sideline antics. 'I think I've got to heckle the refs,' Clark said. 'Maybe I can get a technical or something... maybe even get ejected.' The All-Star event may have been an exhibition, but Clark was clearly still in competitor mode. And if her track record is any indication, that competitive fire hasn't cooled. She entered the break already with two technicals this season, halfway to her self-imposed goal of keeping it under three. She racked up six in her rookie year. While Clark generally avoids criticizing officials publicly, her circle hasn't held back. Her coach, family, and even her boyfriend have made comments about how she's officiated. Earlier this year, she told WNBA legends Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird that limiting technical fouls was a key goal for her in 2025. That's proving to be harder than it sounds. Even from the bench, Clark can't help but push the edge. And the refs may not be safe, not even during an exhibition game. More WNBA News: WNBA star has a plan for $52,725 in cash from All-Star weekend Caitlin Clark dodges a kiss, sparks wild fan reactions at All-Star Event Lexie Hull and Caitlin Clark's connection The full history of NBA 3-Point Contest winners How Caitlin Clark's injury affected the cost of All-Star game tickets
Fox News
3 days ago
- Sport
- Fox News
Caitlin Clark reveals goal for WNBA All-Star Game despite sitting out
Caitlin Clark may be unable to play in the WNBA All-Star Game Saturday because of a groin injury, but that doesn't mean she's going to put the competitive fire out on the bench. Clark was named one of the team captains for the event, and she will be helping New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello from the sidelines. Ahead of the tipoff, Clark was with counterpart Napheesa Collier on ESPN and was asked what her coaching mentality was going to be for the game. "I think I gotta heckle the refs a little bit," she said. "I don't know who's reffing yet, but that will determine how much I'm going to heckle them. Usually, when it's an All-Star Game, it's some better ones, but maybe I could get a technical (foul) or something. "Honestly, just have a good time." The Indiana Fever star then wondered whether the All-Star Game had ever had an ejection. Clark is no stranger to working WNBA officials. She's routinely talking to referees or expressing her displeasure with some of the calls, like a lot of her WNBA colleagues. Before she left Tuesday night's game with a groin injury, Clark had to be pulled away from a referee during a timeout against the Connecticut Sun. Clark was named as one of the All-Star Game captains after receiving the most fan votes. She isn't playing because of an injury she sustained against the Sun. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
New York Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Sandy Brondello cherishes rare family weekend during WNBA All-Star festivities
We've got you covered on the Liberty beat Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Madeline Kenney about all things Liberty and WNBA. tRY IT NOW INDIANAPOLIS — There's nothing quite like an impromptu family vacation to Indianapolis, right? OK, so maybe that city doesn't top the average list of desired getaway spots. And this weekend is technically a work trip for Liberty coach Sandy Brondello and her husband and assistant Olaf Lange. Advertisement But family time can be a rarity for them, especially with their oldest son, Brody, playing basketball in Australia and their teenage daughter, Jayda, living at the family's home base in Phoenix. So anytime together is better than being apart. And this trip is worth cherishing. 'It wasn't planned,' Lange told The Post, 'but we're grateful.' 3 Assistant coach Olaf Lange (L) and head coach Sandy Brondello of the New York Liberty talk in the second quarter of Game Two of the 2023 WNBA Playoffs finals against the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena on October 11, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Getty Images Advertisement Admittedly, Brondello thought she was free from All-Star coaching obligations since the Mercury were a half game ahead of the Liberty in the WNBA standings with only the Wings on deck earlier this month before the top two WNBA coaches were picked. But the Mercury surprisingly lost their July 3 game, which meant the Liberty had the second-best win percentage in the league. So much for those plans to lay low and enjoy a summer weekend in New York ahead of the second half of the Liberty season. Advertisement Don't get it wrong: Brondello was honored to be named a coach for Saturday's All-Star Game, and the rest of her family was excited to spend time together. Covering the Liberty like never before Sign up for Madeline Kenney's Inside the Liberty, a weekly Sports+ newsletter. Thank you Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Check out more newsletters 'We'll enjoy the whole part of it,' Brondello said. 'They love being around the team. They love getting to know the players and it's great that we get to share [this] with our family.' The family of four planned to go to dinner and attend several of the events taking place over the weekend, including Sabrina Ionescu's party on Thursday. They also attended Friday night's festivities and watched Natasha Cloud win the skills challenge and Ionescu become the 3-point champion. Advertisement Talk about an amusing Friday night for this — as Lange put it — 'family of all basketball fanatics.' 'It's become this fun weekend where there's a little bit of work to do but [not nearly as much] that happens during the season,' Lange said. 3 Olaf Lange and Sandy Brondello look on before the game against the Minnesota Lynx during Game 3 of the 2024 WNBA Finals on October 16, 2024 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NBAE via Getty Images Brondello and Lange's intense passion for basketball has been inherited by their two children. Neither Brondello nor Lange forced Brody and Jayda to play the sport they made careers out of, but the two naturally gravitated toward the game at a young age. Jayda plays on her high school basketball team, and Brody is in Brondello's native country developing his game. When he was at Liberty practice last week, he took some reps going up against WNBA players. Given that Jayda lives a shorter flight away, she's around the Liberty more often. After practices, Lange has been seen working with her on her floater and Brondello on the 15-year-old's catch-and-shoot 3s. Advertisement This lifestyle — one that they've been practically living since Brondello and Lange met in Germany in the 1990s — works for them. Brondello and Lange, who married in 2005, have coached alongside one another in San Antonio, Russia and for Australia's national women's basketball team. 3 Kiki Iriafen of the Washington Mystics and head coach Sandy Brondello of the New York Liberty react during the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star practice sessions at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 18, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Getty Images They coached against one another in the 2021 WNBA Finals when Lange was then an assistant on the Chicago Sky's staff and Brondello headed the Phoenix Mercury. Advertisement 'We've been doing this for almost 30 years, it works for us,' said Lange, who joined Brondello in Brooklyn in 2022. 'I understand that many people say, 'I couldn't work with my spouse.' But we've been doing this since we were young. So for us, it's just our life. And we got home, we still talk about basketball every day, and we love it.' His kids enjoy it, too. 'It's really fun because I always know that they're telling me the right things and they're always going to be honest,' Jayda said. 'It's very nice to have all the resources and opportunities just to learn more. It's really fun.' Advertisement Attending WNBA Finals games, being part of last year's championship parade in New York and getting behind-the-scenes access to this year's All-Star festivities are just some of the perks. 'When they're grown up and they're looking back on all those years, they will realize how special these days were,' Lange said. 'You never realize it as much when you're in the moment.'
