Liberty suffers another loss, this time at home to Storm
In the ongoing WNBA season, the injury to New York Liberty's star player, Jonquel Jones, has had a significant negative impact on the team's performance. The reigning WNBA Finals MVP, Jones, sprained her right ankle on June 5, causing her to miss two games and subsequently sidelining her for a crucial portion of the season.
Jones, who averages around 12.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game this season, ranks second in the league with 10.3 rebounds per game. Her absence has been keenly felt on the court, with head coach Sandy Brondello noting that losing Jones during games "took a little bit of the energy away" from the team.
The Liberty have had to rely more heavily on other stars like Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu in Jones' absence. However, the void left in the center position, particularly in terms of rebounding and defense, has been challenging to fill. This is evident in the team's recent losses, such as the 79-70 defeat to the Seattle Storm.
In the game against Seattle, Jones' replacement, 19-year-old rookie Dominique Malonga, had a commendable outing with 11 points and eight rebounds in just under 10 minutes of game time. However, her performance was not enough to counterbalance the impact of Jones' absence. Seattle registered a 45.1% shooting compared to New York's 35.3%, and the Storm outscored the Liberty 22-6 in the third quarter, securing a 83-70 victory.
Sabrina Ionescu led the scoring for New York with a game-high 22 points, sinking five out of six three-point attempts in the first half. Despite her impressive performance, the Liberty's struggles from the field, particularly in the third quarter where they went 2-for-18 from the field, proved costly.
The injury to Jones has also affected her chances of being selected for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game. Despite expressing frustration over the decision, Jones remains optimistic about her recovery, aiming to return post-All-Star break, hopeful of regaining full health before rejoining the Liberty lineup.
With Jones' return a vital factor for the team's chances in maintaining or improving their competitive standing this WNBA season, Liberty fans will be eagerly awaiting her return. The team currently has a record of 12-6 overall, but they have a 2-4 record since Jones was sidelined with her ankle injury. The Liberty will need to find a way to cope without Jones for the remainder of her recovery period if they are to maintain their place in the WNBA's top tier.
Even without Jones, teammates like Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu have stepped up for the New York Liberty, but the loss of her center presence on both rebounding and defense has been noticeable. In the absence of Jones, the team's performance in sports like basketball has suffered, as evident in their recent defeats such as the 79-70 loss to the Seattle Storm. Despite Jones being unlikely to participate in the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game due to her injury, her return to the court for the Liberty remains crucial for their competitive standing in the WNBA season.
