With Liberty training camp opening next week, the team announced Tuesday they’d signed Annika Soltau, a promising German big, to a rookie deal.
The New York Liberty have signed Annika Soltau, a 6’4” German shot blocker who went undrafted in last week’s WNBA Draft, to a rookie scale contract. The signing was announced on the WNBA transaction page:
The 20-year-old, who plays for Baden Basket 54 in the Swiss league, is known primarily for her defense, particularly her shot-blocking prowess, but she averaged 21.1 points and 9.5 rebounds for Baden.
She will join two other German stars on the Liberty roster. Leonie Fiebich and Nyara Sabally, both of whom played critical roles for the New Yorkers in their successful title quest in October. Soltau who’s played for Germany’s youth teams, is a candidate to join Fiebich and Sabally on the German senior national team this summer.
Soltau was tabbed to be taken as high as the second round of the three-round WNBA Draft but went undrafted. Here’s one take on her potential.
Earlier this year, Soltau was named by FIBA as one of Europe’s 20 rising stars.
A power forward who is very long and loves to block shots and cause problems in the paint for her defenders down the other end of the floor, she has enjoyed an eye-catching FIBA youth career.
The Liberty had the 38th and final pick in the 2025 WNBA draft, and chose Adja Kane of France, a 6’3” center. Jonathan Kolb, the Liberty GM, said post-draft that Kane would likely stay in Europe for a few years.
In addition to the news about Soltau, the Liberty also announced two international prospects slated to join the Liberty will not. As our SB Nation sister site, Breakway noted, Spanish forward Raquel Carerra is staying with Valencia in the Spanish women’s league while French forward Seehia Ridard is out of the season due to an injury. The Libs starting forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton is also out for five months following meniscus surgery.
The Libs open training camp next Tuesday in Brooklyn, then after two preseason games, will open their defense of the WNBA crown and raise the championship banner at Barclays Center on May 17.
- Liberty Sign German Prospect to Rookie Contract – Geoff Maglioccetti – Sports Illustrated