Jonquel Jones Shines in Liberty Victory
During Liberty’s second possession in Wednesday’s matchup, Brianna Stewart set a screen for Jonquel Jones. When Nyara Sabally got caught, Jones seized the opportunity to drive past her, dribbling twice before sinking a shot.
Jones has earned recognition for her incredible versatility. As an elite rim protector, she claimed the League MVP title in 2021 and the Finals MVP in 2024. Not only can she shoot three-pointers, but she also passes efficiently and makes the most of her size and strength in the paint.
Liberty coach Chris DeMarco feels there’s an even greater potential to Jones’ game that hasn’t been fully tapped yet. In Liberty’s 97-82 win against Toronto Tempo, Jones showcased this potential, scoring 22 points and grabbing 17 rebounds.
“Her shooting definitely worries other teams,” DeMarco mentioned after a practice. “They usually try to close her down, allowing her to drive. If we space correctly, she can do more than just rely on her bounce. We’re focused on enhancing that part of her skillset this year.”
DeMarco is encouraging Jones to be more aggressive when attacking the basket. Such drives can either lead to easy scores or force the defense to collapse, opening up opportunities for her teammates.
Jones herself remarked on how Liberty’s offensive spacing allows her to drive more aggressively. She recalled, “It’s probably the first time in a long while that I can effectively jump out of a screen. The last time I did that was probably before I left Connecticut. Getting back to that comfort level has been beneficial for my training and on-court performance.”
“Usually, I’d start my dribble a bit earlier, but I’m getting more comfortable with time,” she added.
Sabrina Ionescu has also taken note of Jones’ development this season. “Watching her mix in dribbles and spin moves from the 3-point line is amazing. It’s something we see during practice, but witnessing it in a game was incredible,” Ionescu shared.
Wednesday’s game truly highlighted Jones’ capabilities. The strategy was straightforward: get the ball to Jones and let her dominate, while others stayed ready to either kick out or drive themselves.
Her control on the boards and ability to score inside opened the floor for her teammates. Ionescu commented, “It’s massive. She does a bit of everything. We know her potential, and she knows it too. Once she found her rhythm early on, we kept feeding her the ball.”
The challenge for Jones lies in maintaining that level of aggression consistently. Of course, that’s easier said than done. Facing former Liberty draft pick Sabally may have added extra motivation for her during this game.
Looking ahead, Jones will face a tough challenge against Aliyah Boston and the Indiana Fever on Saturday. Will Wednesday’s performance set a precedent for her moving forward?
“If you show up and play hard every night, success follows,” Jones stated. “I’m not one to chase shots or focus on personal scoring. I’m more of an energy player who moves the ball and lets it flow. But who knows? You just have to keep pushing.”
