The New York Liberty suffered an 18-point loss to the Atlanta Dream on Wednesday, which also resulted in an ankle injury for Jonquel Jones. The injury scare came at the worst possible time, leaving the regular-season finale after rolling her ankle near the sideline.
Jones went down with 3:58 left in the third quarter of New York’s 83-65 loss at Barclays Center. The Liberty center chased a loose ball toward the sideline before rolling her ankle and colliding with a fan sitting courtside.
She got up slowly and headed to the locker room, with the team ruling her out for the rest of the game. Liberty coach Chris DeMarco shared a brief update after the game.
“She rolled her ankle and made contact with a fan. She's in good spirits and doing well, it sounds like, but she's being evaluated right now,” DeMarco said via Khristina of NBC Sports.
Article Continues BelowJones had been one of New York’s better players before the injury. She finished with 10 points and 14 rebounds in 20 minutes, recording a double-double before leaving the game.
The timing makes the injury especially concerning for the Liberty. The former WNBA champions entered the finale without Breanna Stewart, who sat out with left knee soreness. Satou Sabally also remains sidelined for the season because of a head injury.
New York now has little time to wait for clarity. The playoffs begin in just a few days, leaving the Liberty to hope Jones avoids a significant injury and can return quickly.
For now, Jones’ status for the postseason will depend on the results of her evaluation.