**T**he New York Liberty, the reigning Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Champions, have come out of the gates swinging to start the season. They are a franchise best 9-0 (win/loss record), tied with the Minnesota Lynx for the league’s best record.
The Libs have had to earn their last two victories without the services of the 2024 WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) Jonquel ‘JJ’ Jones, who has been sidelined with a day-to-day ankle injury which came in the early minutes of the team’s 86-78 triumph over the Washington Mystics at CareFirst Arena in Washington, DC, last Thursday.
Jones only logged six minutes against the Mystics after she rolled her ankle on the foot of Mystics’ rookie Kiki Iriafen while going up for a bucket in the paint in the opening quarter. She never returned to the game and finished the contest with three points, four rebounds and one assist.
As for the nature of the injury, X-ray results, conducted by team doctors, concluded that there was no structural damage, but the Grand Bahamian center has since missed team practices on Sunday and Monday. She also did not suit up for the Liberty’s matchup against the Chicago Sky on Tuesday night.
Liberty Head Coach Sandy Brondello provided a brief update on Jones’ injury before New York’s dominant 85-66 victory over the Chicago Sky.
“She’s not quite there,” Brondello said. “We’re always about making sure the player is ready to come back and as close to 100 percent as possible.”
Jones and the Liberty have been on a great run to start the 2025 WNBA season.
Prior to the ankle injury, Jones had posted double-doubles in five of seven games. She is averaging 13.9 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 blocks, while playing 24.6 minutes per game.
In Jones’ absence, Liberty center Nyara Sabally stepped up to the challenge in her first WNBA start. She put up nine points, and added three rebounds and one assist in 15 minutes of basketball action.
As for Jones, her injury status remains ‘day-to-day’, and it is unclear when exactly she will return to action for the defending champions, but the team is monitoring her progress.
The New York Liberty will return to action this Saturday when they take on the Indiana Fever on the road at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. That game will get underway at 3 p.m.