Jonquel Jones Discovers Success Secret
This offseason was different for Jonquel Jones—perhaps even a bit transformative.
For the first time in years, rather than heading overseas to play, the standout center for the Liberty spent her downtime recovering from ankle surgery last October. “It was obviously a different type of offseason for me because I had surgery and had to bounce back from that,” she reflected. “It was uncharted territory and something we had never had to deal with before.”
And, well, the results have been impressive.
Jones made her sixth All-Star Game appearance, marking her second as a member of the Liberty. Following a challenging 2025 season marked by injuries, she managed to find her rhythm, averaging an impressive 15.2 points, alongside 9.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists—numbers that rank among her career bests.
She played 21 of 22 games for the Liberty, and her minutes per game increased to 29.5 as her performance improved.
“It means a lot to me,” said the 32-year-old Jones about her All-Star selection. “It feels good to be able to play at an All-Star level. So, thank you to everyone who voted for me and took the time. But yeah, it feels good. It feels good to go out and represent Liberty.”
With new coach Chris DeMarco at the helm, the Liberty has changed the way they utilize Jones, putting the ball in her hands more. Her involvement in pick-and-roll situations has noticeably increased.
She’s also attempting a career-high 4.7 three-pointers per game, with a success rate of 41.2 percent. Additionally, she’s getting to the free-throw line more frequently—averaging 4.0 attempts compared to just 2.9 last year. Her shooting percentage near the basket has also improved, up to 62.5 percent from within five feet.
Teammate Sabrina Ionescu expressed her joy for Jones, noting, “We’re so happy for her. She deserves it. She deserves every bit of it… She’s very well-respected in this league. She showed up all season to play in a new system, trying to understand how we play. She’s dominant, and we can see it night after night. We’re all really happy for her and for Breanna Stewart too.” It seems they’ll likely both represent the Liberty well.
Honorary General Managers for the showcase include Cynthia Cooper and Liberty legend Teresa Weatherspoon, who will select both players for their teams.
In a light-hearted moment, Stewart joked about who would be drafting them, and upon learning Weatherspoon was involved, quipped, “Oh, ‘spoon’, that’s enough.”
