Jonquel Jones and the New York Liberty took shooting practice on Tuesday morning ahead of the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup championship game.
But instead of going through their pregame routine in the intimate atmosphere of Barclays Center, the Liberty warmed up at UBS Arena, home of the New York Islanders.
Although the Liberty was several miles from their traditional home court, there were signs around the arena indicating that they were the designated home team, but Jones was unhappy with the league’s decision to hold the deciding game of the in-season tournament somewhere other than the Liberty’s home field.
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Jonquel Jones of the New York Liberty watches the first half of a game against the Atlanta Dream at Gateway Center Arena in College Park on June 23, 2024 in Atlanta. (Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
“For me, it feels like an away game,” the Liberty star said. [outfit] “Pack your suitcases or whatever, get on a bus.” Scheduling conflicts meant Barclays Center couldn’t host Tuesday’s game. The arena will be the site of Wednesday’s NBA draft.
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The Liberty opted to stay in the Elmont, New York, area instead of returning to Brooklyn in the hours leading up to Tuesday night’s game.
Jonquel Jones is interviewed after the New York Liberty’s victory in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at Barclays Center on Oct. 15, 2023 in Brooklyn, New York. (Mike Lawrence/NBAE via Getty Images)
“It’s frustrating” about the situation ahead of shooting practice, Jones said, adding, “It’s a little frustrating with the Commissioner’s Cup schedule.”
The Liberty went 5-0 in games designated for the Commissioner’s Cup matchup, earning them “home court advantage.”
Jonquel Jones (David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
Jones said the team worked hard to earn the right to play home games.
“We want to solidify our home-court advantage. [the Mystics] “That’s a big reason,” Jones said, adding he was disappointed the league didn’t do everything it could to keep games at Barclays Center.
Jones’ teammate, two-time WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart, also expressed frustration with the circumstances surrounding the finals.
“I think we tried really hard to get the home court advantage. I wish we had actually had the home court available before we decided on a date for the event,” Stewart said.
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Jones was named the 2023 Commissioner’s Cup MVP.
The Minnesota Lynx led the Liberty with just over two minutes left in the final.
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