NEW YORK — The New York Liberty will be without their towering presence, Jonquel Jones, for the next four to six weeks after she sustained a right ankle sprain. The team announced the setback on Saturday, delivering a blow just ahead of their upcoming road trip.
Jones suffered the injury during the second quarter of an intense battle against the Phoenix Mercury, which ended in an 89-81 defeat on Thursday night. Liberty fans watched anxiously as Jones was helped off the court after the incident.
A subsequent evaluation and imaging offered a silver lining -- Jones avoided a long-term injury. The Liberty are optimistic that their 6-foot-6 center will return to the court within the projected time frame.
This isn’t the first time Jones has had trouble with her right ankle; she previously injured it on June 5 in a matchup against Washington, causing her to miss two games. A resilient player, she returned to continue her influential role.
Since being drafted sixth overall in 2016, Jones has been a formidable force in the WNBA, spending six impactful seasons with the Connecticut Sun before making a significant move to New York in a three-team deal this past January. So far, she’s been averaging 12.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game this season, solidifying her status as a cornerstone of the Liberty's roster.
The Liberty are set to embark on a four-game road trip, starting in Seattle on Sunday, with hopes that their star center’s absence will be short-lived.
