Will Liberty's Marine Johannès Make 2023 Debut on Tuesday vs. Seattle?
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As if the New York Liberty weren't stacked with enough firepower, they're now turning to international weaponry as a fateful season continues.
The team announced on Tuesday that Marine Johannès would be active for the night's visit to the Pacific Northwest, as New York is set to do battle with the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena (9 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Johannès will return to American hardwood after fulfilling her international commitments in her native France. She was originally listed as questionable for Tuesday's game due to "international clearance," which put her at the relative mercy of FIBA. Her activation confirms the international governing body's approval and has her on pace for her longest WNBA season yet.
The 28-year-old returned to New York last season after skipping the prior two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and French affairs that included the Tokyo Olympics (helping guide Les Bleues to the bronze). Over two seasons in New York, debuting in 2019, Johannès has established herself as a versatile playmaker, averaging 8.8 points and three assists while shooting 41 percent from three-point range.
Johannès became one of the most talked-about combatants of the WNBA postseason last summer for her efforts that helped the Liberty close in on their second consecutive playoff berth last season: after reaching double-figures in three of the Liberty's final four regular season games, her no-look, over the head pass to a streaking Natasha Howard was the defining highlight of the Liberty's upset victory over defending champion Chicago in the opening game of a best-of-three set. Johannès was later inserted into the starting five during the final game of the series in Brooklyn.
For her efforts, Johannès was granted a one-year deal from the Liberty over the offseason, one of several big transactions the Liberty made in pursuit of their first championship. Two of the arrivals from those deals, Breanna Stewart and Courtney Vandersloot, will face off against their former squads this when they respectively visit Seattle tonight and Chicago on Friday.
Armed with the services of the high-profile newcomers, the Liberty (2-1) will likely be more than happy to see how the showstopping Johannès fits into their revamped rotation. New York goes into the brief trip as winners of its last two contests, including an 81-65 triumph over the Connecticut Sun on Saturday. Johannès is set to join a deep metropolitan bench that includes former starters Stef Dolson and Kayla Thornton, as well as 2022 first-round pick Nyara Sabally.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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