The Liberty have been taking part in the lengthy sport with Spanish ahead/heart Raquel Carrera.
However Carrera felt the timing was proper for her to affix the WNBA this season.
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“I actually assume that now is an efficient time for me as a result of I come actually from an harm two years in the past from my ACL, so now I’m actually feeling good,” Carrera stated after Saturday’s observe. “Now, I feel that that is the second, and I’m actually completely satisfied to be right here.”
The Dream chosen Carrera at No. 19 total within the 2021 WNBA Draft. She remained abroad refining her sport ever since.
The Liberty finally acquired Carrera’s rights in 2022. She tore her proper anterior cruciate ligament in March 2024, which can have performed an element in her delayed arrival to the WNBA.
However with Carrera taking part in her finest basketball but and coming off a Spanish League championship with Valencia, she has excessive expectations for the Liberty this season.
Raquel Carrera of Valencia Basket in motion on Jan. 17, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. Getty Photographs
“I actually assume that we’ve got a very good crew to win the championship,” stated Carrera, who signed a one-year, $270,000 contract with the Liberty final month. “So I’m very excited for it.”
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Carrera joined the Liberty in observe Saturday and is ready to make her WNBA debut Sunday in opposition to the .
Her addition, although, , which was a problem final season. She will be able to play both energy ahead or heart. Her measurement, size, versatility and talent to stretch the ground makes her an excellent match for coach Chris DeMarco’s system.
Raquel Carrera of Spain drives to the basket throughout Spain’s 67-65 loss to Belgium within the the Ladies’s EuroBasket 2025 Closing at Peace and Friendship Stadium on June 29, 2025 in Piraeus, Greece. FIBA through Getty Photographs
“[She’s] coming off a championship, she’s clearly in form, she’s been taking part in,” DeMarco stated. “Excellent massive at studying the sport, dives laborious, good defender so we’re enthusiastic about what she brings.”
Anneli Maley is again.
The Aussie ahead who rapidly grew to become a through the preseason signed a developmental participant contract with the franchise, the crew introduced Saturday.
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Maley will substitute fellow Aussie Alex Fowler, whom the Liberty waived Friday.
Ahead Anneli Maley celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer through the second half of the Liberty’s preseason win over the at Barclays Middle on April 25, 2026. Heather Khalifa for NY Publish
Maley’s relentless rebounding and assured play stood out through the Liberty’s coaching camp. She mixed for 26 factors, 13 rebounds and 4 assists whereas coming off the bench within the crew’s two preseason video games.
Maley was waived earlier than the season began and signed a developmental contract with the Mercury.
Earlier this week, although, Maley’s time with Phoenix got here to an finish.
Maley stated she’s completely satisfied to be again in New York.
“I really feel actually fortunate as a result of to be trustworthy, I get to expertise a whole lot of various things,” Maley stated. “That’s the one approach I can have a look at it. It’s laborious getting waived and picked up and waived and picked up, however what’s the choice for me?
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“I’m attempting so laborious to work my approach right into a roster, and I’ll take getting waived and picked up and moved round and stuff 10 occasions over if it implies that I can get my foot within the door someplace, however it’s laborious. It’s laborious in your psychological well being; it’s more durable in your bodily well being.”