Liberty overcome Mystics even after Jonquel Jones is injured

Washington – Title Defense Insights

Despite an injury to Jonkel Jones early Thursday, the reigning champions, Liberty, maintained their unbeaten streak, defeating the Mystics 86-78.

With this win, Liberty now stands at 8-0 this season, marking the best start in the franchise’s history.

Breanna Stewart was outstanding, scoring 26 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Kennedy Burke came off the bench strong, contributing 12 points with a perfect shooting record from beyond the arc.

During the first quarter, Sabrina Ionescu became the franchise’s all-time leading three-point shooter, surpassing Crystal Robinson. She hit two three-pointers, bringing her total career makes to 401.

Unfortunately, Jonkel Jones rolled her right ankle during a layup and fell to the floor in visible pain, which halted the game at the 2:56 mark. Teammates and staff quickly gathered around her, clearly concerned.

After some time, Jones was helped off the floor and taken for evaluation, leaving uncertainty about her return.

Interestingly, this was the first time this season Liberty found themselves trailing at the end of a quarter. The Mystics had a brief five-point lead, but it didn’t last long.

In the absence of Jones, Liberty dominated the second quarter, outscoring the Mystics 32-12 and creating a 15-point lead.

The shift in effort between the first and second quarters was stark. Liberty not only won the rebounding battle but also grabbed four offensive boards, thanks in part to Isabel Harrison.

Rebekah Gardner also played a pivotal role off the bench, scoring seven of the nine points in the second quarter.

Despite that, the Mystics, led by Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron, didn’t let Liberty get too comfortable. They managed to cut down a 16-point deficit to just four within a minute.

Nevertheless, Stewart sealed the victory in the final minute, hitting 4-3 from the free-throw line.

Winning back-to-back titles is often seen as one of the most challenging feats in sports. It’s not just about being the team to beat again; it’s about managing the pressure and expectations.

Liberty has shown moments of complacency this season, yet they consistently find a way to overcome it. The Lynx, who were the runner-up last year, remain unbeaten as well.