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Fever Coach Stephanie White Has Honest Reaction to WNBA Signing: ‘Oh Geesh’

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Chris Phelps | Last updated Jul 22, 2025 11:00 PM ET

With Caitlin Clark out for her 12th game of the season, Stephanie White and the Indiana Fever battled the New York Liberty for a second-straight game on Tuesday night.

On Monday, just one day before the rematch, the Liberty made a big acquisition, earning a signing commitment from former Washington Mystics forward Emma Meesseman.

Meesseman spent seven years with the Mystics from 2013-2020, opting to skip the 2018 WNBA season to play for her home country of Belgium in the FIBA World Cup. In 2019, Meesseman led Washington to a WNBA championship, winning the Finals MVP in the process.

Although Meesseman hasn't played in the WNBA in three years, spending the 2022 season with the Chicago Sky, White was left in awe of the Liberty's new acquisition. Ahead of Tuesday's game, White gave Meesseman her flowers, sharing her initial reaction to the commitment.

"Yeah, well, my reaction is, 'Oh geesh,'" White said to a laugh from the reporters. "Emma's been an incredible player in our league. Hasn't been in the league for a little while. But has been an incredible leader... She just adds another dimension. You're talking about an already dangerous team that adds one of the best players in the world and allows them to play differently."

White continued to discuss what Meesseman can bring to New York.

"Spreads the floor differently," she added. "Gives you a different look offensively. Defensively, probably a little more versatility. They're already long and have floor spacers, and now they got another one, and it makes them even more dangerous."

Stephanie White on the Liberty signing Emma Meesseman pic.twitter.com/JvCQfrFaM6
— Rosalina Lee (@YoitsRosie) July 22, 2025

For her career, which includes eight seasons and 238 games, Meesseman is averaging 11.5 points on 52.2% shooting, 5.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. As White mentioned, she has proven to be capable from 3-point range, shooting 37.1%.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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