NEW YORK – The New York Liberty found themselves in a nail-biting situation during Game 2 of their first-round playoff matchup against the Washington Mystics. With just 12.6 seconds left on the clock and trailing by two points, Sabrina Ionescu had the opportunity to tie the score with a free throw. However, she missed her first attempt, causing a collective groan from the Barclays Center crowd. But the Liberty remained undeterred because they had Jonquel Jones on their side.
As part of a well-rehearsed play, Ionescu intentionally missed her second free throw, allowing Jones, who is known for her offensive rebounding skills, to quickly dash across the paint to retrieve the ball after it bounced off the rim. Jones went up for a putback and drew a foul. Stepping up to the free throw line, Jones knew she had to make those shots, especially after committing a costly turnover earlier in the game. Two-time MVP Breanna Stewart had full confidence that Jones would come through. “I knew we were going into overtime,” Stewart said, “and that was really it.”
Jones calmly sank both free throws, forcing the game into overtime, where the Liberty clinched a sweep and advanced to the WNBA semifinals for the first time since 2015. This is exactly what Jones had in mind when she joined the team – to help the Liberty win their first WNBA championship, even after a challenging start to the season.
In order for the No. 2 seed Liberty to defeat the No. 3 seed Connecticut Sun in their upcoming Game 3 and potentially advance to the WNBA Finals against the defending champions, the Las Vegas Aces, they need Jones to be at her best on both ends of the court. And Jones is ready to deliver.
It’s worth noting that this time last year, Jones would have been on the opposing side of this matchup. With one year left on her contract, the 2021 MVP made the decision to request a trade from the Connecticut Sun to New York. A three-team deal in January brought her and Kayla Thornton to Brooklyn, generating a buzz in the league even before the start of free agency.
Jones arrived in New York with a feeling that something special was in store, especially after her former UMMC Ekaterinburg teammates, Stewart and Courtney Vandersloot, also joined as free agent signees.
While it took some time for New York to figure out how to integrate all their new players, Jones, a 6-foot-6 Bahamian center, also faced personal challenges early on. She had suffered a foot injury during last year’s Finals, which persisted throughout training camp and the beginning of the regular season. This meant her minutes were restricted, affecting her conditioning and ability to perform at her usual level.
Prior to the All-Star break, Jones averaged lower numbers in points, rebounds, and minutes compared to her previous seasons. She didn’t feel like herself on the court and even fell into a negative mindset, which impacted her overall performance. However, her new teammates provided support throughout her struggles, and Liberty coach Sandy Brondello consistently expressed her belief in Jones and reassured her that she would find her rhythm.
Jones’ breakthrough came after the All-Star break in mid-July when everything seemed to click for her – mentally and physically. She regained her joy for the game and shifted her focus to impacting the game in other ways beyond scoring. Her positive self-talk and one-play-at-a-time approach allowed her to flourish on both ends of the court. Celebrating and enjoying time with her teammates further reminded her why she plays the game.
This transformation was evident in Jones’ statistics as well. Her scoring increased, and her rebounding became dominant in the second half of the season. Coach Brondello pushed her to aim for a double-double every night, and Jones delivered with nine double-doubles since the All-Star break. The Liberty had an undefeated record of 11-0 in the regular season when Jones achieved a double-double. Her defensive presence alongside Stewart also contributed to New York’s strong defensive performance.
Jones solidified her return to form when she was named MVP of the Commissioner’s Cup championship game, where she recorded 16 points and 15 rebounds against the Las Vegas Aces. In the ongoing semifinals series against the Aces, Jones has been instrumental in controlling the paint and limiting the impact of two-time MVP A’ja Wilson. Jones’ emergence has played a pivotal role in the Liberty’s improvement over the second half of the season, leading them to the best winning percentage post-All-Star break.
In the playoffs, Jones has continued to shine, averaging a double-double in each game, contributing to the Liberty’s 3-1 record. Her confidence is at an all-time high as she enters this crucial stretch of the postseason. But…
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