The New York Liberty signed Anneli Maley to a developmental contract on Saturday, adding the 27-year-old forward after her strong season with the Perth Lynx. Khristina Williams reported the move on X, and the deal gives Maley another shot to stick in the WNBA.
Maley’s path back to the league has been built on production and persistence. She appeared in two games earlier this season with the Phoenix Mercury, averaging one rebound in three minutes per contest, and previously spent part of the 2022 WNBA season with the Chicago Sky, where she made four appearances and averaged two points and 1.8 rebounds in 11 minutes per game. She shot 50% from the field and 66.7% from 3-point range with Chicago.
Her most recent work came in Australia, where she was one of the best players in the Women’s National Basketball League. In the 2025 WNBL season with the Perth Lynx, Maley averaged 15.5 points, 14.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 40.8% from the field, 32.8% from 3-point range and 81.8% from the free-throw line. She won WNBL MVP honors in 2022 with the Bendigo Spirit, a season that helped establish her as one of the league’s most productive and versatile players.
The signing comes as the Liberty navigate the early part of the 2026 WNBA season. New York entered Sunday with a 3-2 record after an 87-70 loss to the Golden State Valkyries on Thursday night, and was scheduled to face the Dallas Wings at 3:30 p.m. ET. Maley’s arrival adds another frontcourt option to a team trying to steady itself after the setback.
It also underscores how much of Maley’s professional résumé has been formed overseas, especially in Australia, where her rebounding, scoring and playmaking made her stand out. The question now is whether she can turn that form into a longer stay with New York.
