The Liberty have been playing the long game with Spanish forward/center Raquel Carrera.
But Carrera felt the timing was right for her to join the WNBA this season.
“I really think that now is a good time for me because I come really from an injury two years ago from my ACL, so now I’m really feeling good,” Carrera said after Saturday’s practice. “Now, I think that this is the moment, and I’m really happy to be here.”
The Dream selected Carrera at No. 19 overall in the 2021 WNBA Draft. She remained overseas refining her game ever since.
The Liberty eventually acquired Carrera’s rights in 2022. She tore her right anterior cruciate ligament in March 2024, which may have played a part in her delayed arrival to the WNBA.
But with Carrera playing her best basketball yet and coming off a Spanish League championship with Valencia, she has high expectations for the Liberty this season.
Madrid, Spain. Getty Images
“I really think that we have a good team to win the championship,” said Carrera, who signed a one-year, $270,000 contract with the Liberty last month. “So I’m very excited for it.”
Carrera joined the Liberty in practice Saturday and is set to make her WNBA debut Sunday against the Dallas Wings.
Her addition, though, bolsters the Liberty’s frontcourt depth, which was an issue last season. She can play either power forward or center. Her size, length, versatility and ability to stretch the floor makes her an ideal fit for coach Chris DeMarco’s system.
“[She’s] coming off a championship, she’s obviously in shape, she’s been playing,” DeMarco said. “Very good big at reading the game, dives hard, good defender so we’re excited about what she brings.”
Anneli Maley is back.
The Aussie forward who quickly became a favorite amongst Liberty fans during the preseason signed a developmental player contract with the franchise, the team announced Saturday.
Maley will replace fellow Aussie Alex Fowler, whom the Liberty waived Friday.
Maley’s relentless rebounding and confident play stood out during the Liberty’s training camp. She combined for 26 points, 13 rebounds and four assists while coming off the bench in the team’s two preseason games.
Maley was waived before the season started and signed a developmental contract with the Mercury.
Earlier this week, though, Maley’s time with Phoenix came to an end.
Maley said she’s happy to be back in New York.
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“I feel really lucky because to be honest, I get to experience a lot of different things,” Maley said. “That’s the only way I can look at it. It’s hard getting waived and picked up and waived and picked up, but what’s the alternative for me?
“I’m trying so hard to work my way into a roster, and I will take getting waived and picked up and moved around and stuff 10 times over if it means that I can get my foot in the door somewhere, but it’s hard. It’s hard on your mental health; it’s harder on your physical health.”
