Meesseman signs with WNBA champion Sky

The reigning WNBA champion Chicago Sky has added another key player with hopes of repeating in 2022.

the eaves Emma Meessemann signed as a free agent with the Sky, the team announced Friday. Meesseman is the third former WNBA Finals MVP on the Sky roster, joining Candace Parker (2016) and Kahleah Copper (2021). Meesseman received the honor in 2019 when he helped the Washington Mystics win their first championship.

Meesseman was one of the last big names on the WNBA free agent market to sign; previously reported signings of the center Liz Cambage (Los Angeles Sparks) and point guard Sue Bird (Seattle Storm) were announced on Friday as well.

The veteran escorts of the Sky, Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigleyalong with shooting guard/forward Copper, was announced Thursday that they were returning to Chicago after re-signing as free agents.

Meesseman, 6-foot-4, who turns 29 in May, was born in Ypres, Belgium and has been a longtime member of the Belgium national team. Her commitment to that team prevented her from playing in the WNBA last year as she focused on the Olympics.

She was selected in the second round at age 19 by the Mystics in 2013, and she proved to be the steal of that draft. She has played a total of seven seasons in the WNBA, she also sat on the bench in 2018, and averaged 11.3 points and 5.3 rebounds throughout her career. Meesseman is part of a new Belgian connection to the Sky: 2000 WNBA draft pick Ann Wauters is now in Chicago as James Wade’s assistant, and point guard Julie Allemand25, joined Sky in a transfer on February 3.

Wauters played nine seasons in the WNBA, including winning the league championship in 2016 as Parker’s partner in Los Angeles. Allemand made her WNBA debut in 2020 with Indiana. They have also played together for the Belgium national team. Meesseman is currently serving with UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia, as are Vandersloot and Quigley. Wade has previously coached Meesseman abroad.

“Emma is a world-class athlete who has won at every level,” Wade said. “I’ve had the good fortune to coach Emma in the past, so I’ve seen up close exactly what she offers – and she’s someone who plays basketball the way it’s supposed to be played.”