History of Emma Meesseman in Timeline

Emma Meesseman is a Belgian professional basketball player currently playing for the New York Liberty in the WNBA. Drafted by the Washington Mystics in 2013, she has also played for the Belgian national team and various European professional teams. Notably, she was recognized as the 2011 FIBA Europe Young Women's Player of the Year and earned the 2019 WNBA Finals MVP award. Meesseman pursued studies in physical education at Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1983: Mother was Belgian Women's Basketball Player of the Year

In 1983, Emma Meesseman's mother, Sonja Tankrey, was the Belgian Women's Basketball Player of the Year.

May 1993: Emma Meesseman Born

In May 1993, Emma Meesseman was born. She is a Belgian professional basketball player currently playing for the New York Liberty of the WNBA.

2011: Debut for Belgium

In 2011, Emma Meesseman made her debut for Belgium at the FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship for Women.

2011: FIBA Europe Young Women's Player of the Year

In 2011, Emma Meesseman was named the FIBA Europe Young Women's Player of the Year.

2012: Joined ESB Villeneuve-d'Ascq

In 2012, Emma Meesseman joined ESB Villeneuve-d'Ascq of the Ligue Féminine de Basketball.

2013: Drafted by the Washington Mystics

In 2013, Emma Meesseman was drafted by the Washington Mystics as the 19th overall pick in the second round of the WNBA draft.

2013: WNBA Rookie Season

In 2013, during her rookie season in the WNBA after being drafted by the Washington Mystics, Emma Meesseman was a back-up center, averaging 4.4 points and 3.1 rebounds in 34 games.

2014: Played for Spartak Moscow

From 2014, Emma Meesseman played for Spartak Moscow, competing in two EuroCup tournaments.

2014: Starting Center for the Mystics

In the 2014 season, Emma Meesseman became the starting center for the Washington Mystics, averaging 10.1 points and a career-high 6.4 rebounds per game.

November 2015: Scored 31 points for the women's senior team

On 25 November 2015, Emma Meesseman scored 31 points, made seventeen rebounds and five assists for the women's senior team in a EuroBasket Women 2017 qualifier against Belarus.

2015: Won Russian National League championship

In 2015, Emma Meesseman and UMMC Ekaterinburg won the Russian National League championship.

2015: Breakout Season and All-Star Appearance

In 2015, Emma Meesseman had a breakout season, averaging 11.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, ranking fifth in blocks per game, and adding three-point shooting to her skill set. She also made her first career All-Star game appearance.

February 2016: Acquired by UMMC Ekaterinburg

In February 2016, Emma Meesseman was acquired by UMMC Ekaterinburg.

April 2016: Won EuroLeague with UMMC Ekaterinburg

In April 2016, Emma Meesseman and UMMC Ekaterinburg won the 2015-16 EuroLeague, Europe's premium basketball competition for women.

2016: Signed Contract Extension with the Mystics

In 2016, Emma Meesseman signed a three-year contract extension with the Mystics and had the best season of her career thus far, averaging a career-high 15.2 points per game and leading the league in three-point field goal percentage.

May 2017: Returned to Mystics' Roster

On 12 May 2017, Emma Meesseman returned for practice with the Mystics after leaving the team due to overseas commitment.

June 2017: Activated to Play on the Mystics' Roster

On 28 June 2017, Emma Meesseman was activated to play on the Mystics' roster.

July 2017: Scored Career-High 30 Points

On 30 July 2017, Emma Meesseman scored a new career-high of 30 points along with 10 rebounds in a 77–70 victory over the Atlanta Dream.

2017: Continued Strong Performance at EuroBasket Women

Continuing on from her strong performance at EuroBasket Women 2017, Meesseman led the Belgium women's national basketball team to a top finish in group C, besting Spain.

2017: Finished 3rd with UMMC Ekaterinburg and Missed the Final

In 2017, Emma Meesseman and UMMC Ekaterinburg missed out on the EuroLeague final and finished 3rd in the competition.

2017: Led Belgium to EuroBasket Women Bronze Medal

In 2017, Emma Meesseman led Belgium to a bronze medal at EuroBasket Women and was named to the All-Star Five of the tournament.

2017: EuroBasket Women Qualifier

In November 2015, Emma Meesseman played in the EuroBasket Women 2017 qualifier.

January 2018: Sat Out 2018 Season

In January 2018, Emma Meesseman announced that she would sit out the entire 2018 season to play for Team Belgium in the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup tournament.

2018: Belgium Qualified for the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup

In 2017, with a top 5 finish in EuroBasket Women, the Belgium women's national basketball team qualified for the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup.

2018: Won EuroLeague and elected Final Four MVP

In 2018, Emma Meesseman and UMMC Ekaterinburg won the EuroLeague. Meesseman, averaging 19 points in the Final Four tournament, was elected Final Four MVP.

2019: Won EuroLeague with UMMC Ekaterinburg

In 2019, Emma Meesseman and UMMC Ekaterinburg won another EuroLeague title.

2019: Returned to the Mystics and Won Finals MVP

In 2019, Emma Meesseman returned to the Washington Mystics, contributing to their success and earning Finals MVP honors as the Mystics defeated the Connecticut Sun in five games. She became the first European player to be named Finals MVP.

2019: WNBA Finals MVP

In 2019, Emma Meesseman was named the WNBA Finals MVP.

August 2020: Scored Season-High 24 Points

On 5 August 2020, Emma Meesseman scored a season-high 24 points along with 13 rebounds in a 83–77 victory over the Las Vegas Aces while playing for the Mystics in the WNBA bubble.

2020: Won Russian National League championship

In 2020, Emma Meesseman and UMMC Ekaterinburg won the Russian National League championship.

2020: Qualified for the Olympic Games in Tokyo

In 2020, the Belgian Cats, with Emma Meesseman, qualified for the Olympic games in Tokyo. She was later also named the TISSOT MVP at the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Ostend.

July 2022: Signed with Fenerbahçe Istanbul

On July 1, 2022, Emma Meesseman signed with Fenerbahçe Istanbul for the EuroLeague Women season.

2022: Signed with the Chicago Sky

Ahead of the 2022 season, Emma Meesseman signed with the Chicago Sky, where she was reunited with her Belgian national teammates Julie Allemand and Ann Wauters.

July 2023: Signed one year deal with club

On 26 July 2023, Emma Meesseman signed with the club for one year deal.

2023: Led Belgium to EuroBasket Women Title

In 2023, Emma Meesseman led Belgium to their first ever title in EuroBasket Women, defeating Spain in the final, was named MVP of the tournament and to the All-Star Five of the tournament.

2023: Won EuroLeague Women Championship and Basketball Super League Championship with Fenerbahçe Alagöz Holding

In 2023, Emma Meesseman won the EuroLeague Women championship and the 2022–23 Basketball Super League championship with the Fenerbahçe Alagöz Holding jersey. She was also selected as the regular season MVP in EuroLeague Women and named to the 2022–23 All-EuroLeague First Team.

February 2024: Belgium Secured Paris 2024 Quota Spot

In February 2024, Belgium hosted one of the three Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in Antwerp and secured on home soil a Paris 2024 quota spot.

August 2024: Renewed contract with team

On 4 August 2024, Emma Meesseman renewed her contract with the team for 2024–25 season.

2024: Belgium Qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournaments

With their first ever title by winning the EuroBasket Women 2023, the Belgium women's national basketball team qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.

July 2025: Committed to play for the New York Liberty

In July 2025, Emma Meesseman committed to play for the New York Liberty.

2025: Led Belgium to a Repeat Second Title in EuroBasket Women 2025

In 2025, Emma Meesseman led Belgium to a repeat second title in EuroBasket Women 2025, beating Spain in the final for a second time in a row, being named a historic back-to-back MVP and was again elected to the All-Star Five of the tournament.