.jpg) Meesseman in 2023 | |
| No. 11 – Fenerbahçe | |
|---|---|
| Position | Power forward |
| League | Turkish Super League EuroLeague Women |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1993-05-13)13 May 1993 (age 32) Ypres, Belgium |
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Listed weight | 191 lb (87 kg) |
| Career information | |
| WNBA draft | 2013: 2nd round, 19th overall pick |
| Drafted by | Washington Mystics |
| Playing career | 2009–present |
| Career history | |
| 2009–2012 | Blue Cats Ieper |
| 2009–2012 | Lotto Young Cats |
| 2012–2014 | ESB Villeneuve-d'Ascq |
| 2013–2020 | Washington Mystics |
| 2014–2016 | WBC Sparta&K |
| 2016–2022 | UMMC Ekaterinburg |
| 2022 | Chicago Sky |
| 2022–present | Fenerbahçe |
| 2025–present | New York Liberty |
| Career highlights | |
| |
| Stats at WNBA.com | |
Stats atBasketball Reference  | |
_(cropped).jpg)
Emma Meesseman (born 13 May 1993) is a Belgian professionalbasketball player forNew York Liberty of theWomen’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and forFenerbahçe of theWomen's Basketball Super League andEuroLeague Women. After playing basketball in Belgium, Meesseman was drafted by theWashington Mystics with the 19th overall pick in the second round of the2013 WNBA draft. She has also played for theBelgian national team and several European professional teams. She was named the 2011FIBA Europe Young Women's Player of the Year and the2019 WNBA FinalsMVP.[12] Meesseman studied physical education atVrije Universiteit Brussel.[13][14]
Meesseman's club career began at the age of 16. She played domestically for the Blue Cats, based in her birth town ofYpres, and in theEuroCup for Lotto Young Cats, also in her native Belgium. In her second season with the Blue Cats, she helped win the team its first national title and was named Belgium Championship MVP.[15]
In 2012, she joinedESB Villeneuve-d'Ascq of theLigue Féminine de Basketball. In her second year with the club she played in her thirdEuroCup, reaching the semi-finals before falling toWBC Dynamo Moscow.[16]
Meesseman played forSpartak Moscow from 2014 to 2016, competing in two EuroCup tournaments. In February 2016, she was acquired byUMMC Ekaterinburg.[17]
With UMMC Ekaterinburg, Meesseman won theRussian National League championship in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. Meesseman andUMMC Ekaterinburg won the2015–16 EuroLeague, Europe's premium basketball competition for women, in April 2016. Having missed out on the final in 2017 and finished 3rd, Meesseman andUMMC Ekaterinburg won the2017–18 EuroLeague. Meesseman, averaging 19 points in the Final Four tournament, was elected Final Four MVP. Meesseman andUMMC Ekaterinburg followed this up with furtherEuroleague wins in seasons2018–19 and2020–21.
She signed withFenerbahçe Istanbul on 1 July 2022 forEuroLeague Women season.[18] Meesseman, who won2022–23 EuroLeague Women championship[19] and the2022–23 Basketball Super League championship with the Fenerbahçe Alagöz Holding jersey in the 2022–2023 season, was selected as theregular season MVP in EuroLeague Women and also been in 2022–23 All-EuroLeague First Team.[20]
On 26 July 2023, she signed with the club for one year deal. In the 2023–24 season, she helped her club back to back win the2023–24 EuroLeague Women championship and the2023–24 Basketball Super League championship for the sixth time in a row, also selected as theregular season MVP in EuroLeague Women and also been in 2023–24 All-EuroLeague First Team.[21]
On 4 August 2024, she renewed her contract with the team for 2024–25 season.[22]
Meesseman was drafted 19th overall in the second round of the2013 WNBA draft by theWashington Mystics. In her rookie season, Meesseman was a back-up center on the Mystics' roster, averaging 4.4 points per game and 3.1 rebounds per game in 34 games with 1 start.[citation needed]
In the 2014 season, Meesseman became the starting center for the Mystics and averaged 10.1 points per game and a career-high 6.4 rebounds per game.[citation needed]
In the 2015 season, Meesseman would play outside her natural position after being moved to power forward in the Mystics' starting line-up to make room forStefanie Dolson at the center position.[23][24] Meesseman would have a breakout season in 2015, averaging 11.6 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game, was ranked fifth in blocks per game and also added three-point shooting to her skill set. Meesseman scored a career-high 24 points to go along with 10 rebounds in a loss against theTulsa Shock on 19 June 2015.[25] She also made her first career all-star game appearance after being voted into the2015 WNBA All-Star Game.[26]
In 2016, Meesseman signed a three-year contract extension with the Mystics.[27] During the 2016 season, Meesseman would have the best season of her career thus far, averaging a career-high 15.2 points per game and led the league in three-point field goal percentage.[28]
In 2017, after the Mystics traded Dolson to theChicago Sky, Meesseman continued her role at the power forward spot in the starting lineup. In the Mystics' season opener, Meesseman scored 13 points along with 8 rebounds in an 89–74 victory over theSan Antonio Stars.[29] During the 2017 season, Meesseman left the Mystics after the first four games due to overseas commitment to play for her national team during theFIBA world championship qualifying tournament. She returned on 12 May 2017 for practice and was activated to play on the Mystics' roster on 28 June 2017.[30][31] On 30 July 2017 Meesseman scored a new career-high of 30 points along with 10 rebounds in a 77–70 victory over theAtlanta Dream.[32] The Mystics secured a playoff berth as the #6 seed in the league with an 18–16 record. In the first round elimination game, the Mystics defeated theDallas Wings 86–76, Meesseman scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.[33] They advanced to the second round elimination game, where they defeated the #3-seededNew York Liberty, 82–68, advancing to the semi-finals, making it the first time in franchise history where the Mystics have advanced past the second round. Meeeseman scored 5 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in the win.[34] In the semi-finals, the Mystics were defeated by theMinnesota Lynx in a 3-game sweep.[citation needed]
In January 2018, it was announced that Meesseman would sit out the entire 2018 season to play forTeam Belgium in the2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup tournament.[35] Without Meesseman, the Mystics would make a run to the WNBA Finals, but were defeated in a 3-game sweep by theSeattle Storm.[citation needed]
In 2019, Meesseman returned to the Mystics and played most of the season off the bench. With her return and strong contribution off the bench, the Mystics would finish as the number 1 seed with a 26–8 record, receiving a double-bye to the semi-finals. In the semi-finals, the Mystics defeated theLas Vegas Aces 3–1, advancing to the WNBA Finals for the second year in a row. Meesseman's presence and off-the-bench heroics earned her Finals MVP honors as the Mystics defeated theConnecticut Sun in five games. Meesseman became the first European player to be named Finals MVP and only the second international player in league history (the first wasLauren Jackson).[citation needed]
In 2020, the season was delayed and shortened to 22 games in a bubble atIMG Academy due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. On 5 August 2020 Meesseman scored a season-high 24 points along with 13 rebounds in a 83–77 victory over the Las Vegas Aces.[36] During the season, the Mystics were shorthanded with key players leaving in free agency and sitting out for health concerns as they finished 9–13 with the number 8 seed. Meesseman had returned to the starting lineup with increased playing time. They would lose 85–84 to thePhoenix Mercury in the first round elimination game.[citation needed]
Ahead of the 2022 season, Meesseman signed with theChicago Sky, where she was reunited with her Belgian national teammatesJulie Allemand andAnn Wauters (with the latter serving as an assistant coach).[37]
In July 2025, Meesseman committed to play for theNew York Liberty.[38]
Meesseman made her debut for Belgium at the2011 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship for Women. In the final, Meesseman led the team to victory 77–49 over France, herself scoring 25 points, and was named tournament MVP.[39] On 25 November 2015 she scored 31 points, made seventeen rebounds and five assists for the women's senior team in aEuroBasket Women 2017 qualifier againstBelarus.[citation needed]
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Meesseman led Belgium to a best ever finish inEuroBasket Women 2017, a bronze medal, and was named to the All-Star Five of the tournament. With this finish in the top 5 ofEuroBasket Women 2017, theBelgium women's national basketball team qualified for the2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup. Before this, theBelgium women's national basketball team had never qualified for a World Championships or the Olympic Games.[40]
Continuing on from her strong performance atEuroBasket Women 2017, Meesseman led theBelgium women's national basketball team to a top finish in group C, besting (then second-ranked team in the world) Spain. The Belgian Cats next beat (the then third-ranked team in the world) France in the quarter-final only to lose against the top-ranked team in the world (USA) in the semi-final. Beaten in the bronze medal game by Spain, the Belgian women registered a 4th-place finish at their firstFIBA Women's Basketball World Cup. Meesseman, averaging the most rebounds per game (10.7) and the second most points per game (18.5) at the tournament, was selected to theTournament All-Star Five.[41]
Meesseman led Belgium to their first ever title inEuroBasket Women 2023 at the final after defeatingSpain,[42] was namedMVP of the tournament and to the All-Star Five of the tournament.[43] Meesseman also made history after becoming the first ever player to claim a triple-double at the event.[44] With their first ever title by winning theEuroBasket Women 2023, theBelgium women's national basketball team qualified for theParis 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.She then repeated this feat in 2025, leading Belgium to a repeat second title inEuroBasket Women 2025, beating Spain in the final for a second time in a row, being named a historic back-to-backMVP and was again elected to the All-Star Five of the tournament.[3][4][5] With 16 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists in the final, she also became the first player to have 15+ points, 10+ rebounds and 5+ assists in a Women’s EuroBasket Final over the last 30 years.[45] With this win, Belgium became only the third team in history to successfully defend theirEuroBasket Women title with only the Soviet Union and Spain having done it before and became the first team in Eurobasket history to win two titles despite trailing at half-time in Final on both occasions.[46][45]
In 2020 the Belgian Cats, with Meesseman, qualified for theOlympic games inTokyo.[47][48] She was later also named the TISSOT MVP at the FIBA Women'sOlympic Qualifying Tournament inOstend.[49] At the2020 Summer Games, she led theBelgium women's national basketball team to the quarter-finals, having defeatedAustralia andPuerto Rico and lost toChina in the pool phase. In the quarterfinals, Belgium then suffered a loss to home teamJapan.[50] At the end of the tournament, she was elected to the All-Star Five of the tournament, having posted thebest points per game, steals and efficiency in the tournament.[51]
In February 2024, Belgium hosted one of the threeOlympic Qualifying Tournaments inAntwerp and secured on home soil a Paris 2024 quota spot.[52] Meesseman was later one of Belgium's flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the2024 Summer Olympics, becoming the first Belgium basketball player to receive this honor.[53][54]
In the Paris Olympics, the Belgian national team advanced to the semifinals for the first time ever after defeating Spain 79-66 in the quarterfinals. Meesseman was the best scorer in the Belgian team with 19 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks.[55] In the semifinal overtime loss, 75-81, againstFrance, Meesseman was the game's top scorer with 19 points, including a game-tying three-pointer 8 seconds before the end of regulation.[56] In the bronze medal game, Meesseman scored 23 points, but Belgium lost to Australia 81-85, missing out on a medal.[57] At the end of the tournament, she was once again elected to the All-Star Five of the tournament,[58] having posted thebest points per game and efficiency in the tournament.
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game | RPG | Rebounds per game |
| APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game | BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game |
| TO | Turnovers per game | FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| Bold | Career best | ° | League leader |
| † | Denotes seasons in which Meesseman won aWNBA championship |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Washington | 34 | 1 | 14.7 | .446 | .000 | .810 | 3.1 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 4.4 |
| 2014 | Washington | 34 | 34 | 27.4 | .520 | .000 | .909 | 6.4 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 10.1 |
| 2015 | Washington | 34 | 34 | 27.2 | .556 | .462 | .829 | 6.3 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 11.6 |
| 2016 | Washington | 34 | 34 | 29.3 | .533 | .448° | .800 | 5.6 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 15.2 |
| 2017 | Washington | 23 | 21 | 28.4 | .482 | .318 | .870 | 5.7 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 14.1 |
| 2019† | Washington | 23 | 6 | 23.6 | .552 | .422 | .905 | 4.2 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 13.1 |
| 2020 | Washington | 20 | 20 | 31.7 | .454 | .289 | .829 | 5.3 | 4.5 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 13.0 |
| 2022 | Chicago | 36 | 36 | 28.6 | .571 | .342 | .887 | 5.5 | 3.8 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 12.4 |
| 2025 | New York | 17 | 12 | 25.9 | .572 | .667 | .865 | 5.1 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 13.4 |
| Career | 9 years, 3 teams | 255 | 198 | 26.1 | .525 | .394 | .855 | 5.3 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 11.6 |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Washington | 3 | 0 | 12.5 | .455 | .000 | .667 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 4.0 |
| 2014 | Washington | 2 | 2 | 33.3 | .526 | .000 | 1.000 | 8.0 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 12.5 |
| 2015 | Washington | 3 | 3 | 33.1 | .379 | .250 | .667 | 6.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 9.0 |
| 2017 | Washington | 5 | 5 | 31.2 | .302 | .231 | .700 | 5.4 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 9.6 |
| 2019† | Washington | 9 | 3 | 28.2 | .582 | .516 | .824 | 5.6 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 19.3 |
| 2020 | Washington | 1 | 1 | 35.0 | .533 | 1.000° | .000 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 18.0 |
| 2022 | Chicago | 8 | 8 | 29.6 | .470 | .300 | .833 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 11.1 |
| 2025 | New York | 3 | 0 | 13.3 | .278 | .000 | .500 | 5.3 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 4.3 |
| Career | 8 years, 3 teams | 34 | 22 | 27.2 | .467 | .423 | .755 | 4.9 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 11.9 |
Meeseman's mother,Sonja Tankrey, is a former basketball player.[59] She was the Belgian Women's Basketball Player of the Year in 1983.[60]
Meesseman speaks fluent Dutch, French and English. Meesseman was also born with 50% hearing. She wears hearing devices behind both ears to compensate for her lack of hearing.[61]
Blue Cats Ieper
2011-12 2011-12
2013-142015-16,2017-18,2018-19,2020-21 2016, 2018, 2019 2015–2016, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21 2021–22 2017, 2019 2021 2016, 20182022–23,[19]2023–24[21]2023,20242022-23,2023-24,2024-25 2024 202420112023,2025
2017,2021
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