Jonquel

Jones

After appearing in 40 and 39 games the two seasons prior, Jones made 31 regular-season appearances for the Liberty in 2025. She missed time before the All-Star break with a right ankle injury and managed to play through persistent issues during the post-break portion of the schedule. According to Powell, Monday’s procedure was minor and addressed instability in Jones’ ankle. Jones is one of six Liberty players who will be unrestricted free agents this offseason, including Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart.

Jones’ Game 2 struggles fully spilled into Friday’s Game 3, where she made only one shot on the evening and failed to make a three-pointer. The 2024 Finals MVP’s lone basket came in the final minute of the first quarter. She’d go on to miss her next seven shots and finish as one of several Liberty players to come up short on the offensive end. Jones, like several other Liberty players, will enter free agency this upcoming offseason. She figures to remain a productive fantasy basketball option regardless of where she chooses to play in 2026.

None of the Liberty’s five starters were able to reach double figures in scoring on Wednesday, as they all shot inefficiently and played limited minutes due to a large second-half deficit. Jones, however, was at least able to make an impact on the glass, leading all players in rebounding in Game 2. Her biggest impact came in the game’s opening quarter — here, she shot 3-of-3 from the field and scored all seven of her points before going scoreless on 0-of-6 shooting the rest of the way. New York will almost certainly need a more productive performance on Friday from its reigning Finals MVP if it wants to avoid elimination, especially with Breanna Stewart playing through a knee injury.

On Thursday night Ionescu became the first player in Liberty franchise history to record 11 assists without a turnover in a single game. To end her regular season prior to the playoffs, Ionescu registered at least nine assists in each of her last three games which ties the longest streak in her career. She also recorded her 21st double-double of her career and fourth of the 2025 regular season. Ionescu’s 11 assists were to five different teammates including five registered alongside Breanna Stewart who she’s developed an almost telepathic chemistry with. Ionescu also made sure to find the Liberty’s other front court players in Jonquel Jones and Nyara Sabally for two assists each in addition to wings Leonie Fiebich and Kennedy Burke cutting to the basket off the ball.

Jones finished Tuesday’s victory with her 12th double-double of the season and first since August 25, which was also the last time Sabrina Ionescu played before making her return against the Mystics. In the three games the veteran center played without Ionescu, she averaged 4.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.7 blocks while shooting 37.5 percent from the field. Getting Ionescu back boosts the entire Liberty roster, but Jones may benefit the most of the team’s mainstays.

Jones tallied one of her least productive outings of the season on Tuesday. In games in which she’s logged at least 10 minutes of action, her scoring total against the Valkyries marked her lowest of the season, which came on the heels of a six-point performance against the Mercury. Jones took only four shots for the entire game and failed to make a three-pointer for the second game in a row. The reigning Finals MVP is in her second game back from an illness, which could potentially be a reason for the low production on Tuesday. Still, both Jones and the Liberty struggled on Tuesday and will need to bounce back against the Storm on Friday.

Back in the Liberty lineup after a one-game absence, Jones struggled against the Mercury. In addition to shooting 3-of-8 from the field, she was responsible for a game-high five turnovers. Some credit should go to Mercury post Natasha Mack, whose high-energy approach negatively impacted Jones throughout Saturday’s game. However, more impactful may have been Sabrina Ionescu’s continued absence due to a toe injury, as the Liberty was forced to play without a critical offensive weapon. Jones wasn’t good against Phoenix, but it would be unsurprising if she were to bounce back when the Liberty visit the Valkyries on Tuesday.

Jones is back after sitting out Thursday’s win over the Mystics due to illness. Emma Meesseman replaced her in the starting lineup that night and will likely return to the bench. However, Meesseman will still play plenty, especially with Breanna Stewart under a minutes restriction. Stewart will be allowed to play a maximum of 28 minutes, increasing her previous limit.

Not much offensive production was required of Stewart on a night in which the Liberty were without Sabrina Ionescu (toe), Natasha Cloud (nose), and Jonquel Jones (illness). The former first-overall pick logged 24 minutes and scored more than half of her points in the final five minutes as the Liberty held a large lead — most of the game, it was Isabelle Harrison and Marine Johannes who led New York in scoring. The Liberty’s winning formula on Thursday might not be repeated many other times this season, but it was notable that the banged-up team did not have to rely too heavily on Stewart in only her second game back from a leg injury that had sidelined her for almost a month.

The Liberty’s starting unit on Thursday will differ from their most recent win on Monday. Meeseman re-joins the opening unit in place of Jonquel Jones (illness), while Marine Johannes fills in for Sabrina Ionescu (toe). New York has dealt with a plethora of injuries and lineup changes throughout the season, and after Thursday’s game against Washington, it’ll have five regular-season games left before the postseason begins. They are currently fifth in the WNBA standings.