Liberty’s Positive Injury News Ahead of All-Star Break
Before their second-to-last game before the All-Star break, the Liberty received some encouraging news regarding injuries. Both Natasha Cloud and Isabel Harrison may be ready to play against the Dreams on Sunday, despite having missed the last game and practicing fully on Saturday with respective hip and knee issues.
Meanwhile, Jonquel Jones, last year’s WNBA Finals MVP, has been on the move again, participating in 5-on-5 drills for the first time since re-injuring her right ankle on June 19. Coach Sandy Brondello expressed relief at seeing her back on the court. “I’m glad I put her in 5-on-5 on Saturday. We’re seeing how she impacts our group right away,” Brondello noted. However, he emphasized the need to build her stamina, indicating that she’s putting in a lot of effort.
Jones had averaged 12.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, but she experienced setbacks last month with an awkward landing during a layup, causing her to leave the game. This re-injury initially led to a recovery timeline of about four to six weeks, raising concerns about the Liberty’s defensive struggles without her presence in the paint.
Jones’s ability to score from both near and far is missed. The Liberty has struggled offensively without her contributions. “I’m just trying to get as close to 100% as possible before I get back on the court,” she reflected, describing her recovery process that started with cycling and shooting before moving on to full court drills.
As the Liberty looks forward to potentially having Jones back in the lineup, they hope to solidify performance across the board. Cloud, who contributes an average of 10.1 points and 6.2 assists per game, is another key player the team is awaiting.
Brondello acknowledged the importance of both Cloud and Harrison making their return on Sunday, calling the upcoming game against Atlanta a physically demanding challenge. After a tough June, when the Liberty faced difficulties defensively, they are now boasting a fifth-best defensive rating at 98.7 in July, an improvement over their previous rankings. The return of Leonie Fevich after Eurobasket has helped, and Brondello believes Jones’s return will further enhance the team’s performance.
“We just had a few days off, so we need to channel that energy,” Brondello said, urging the team to push forward, especially as they navigate a thinner lineup. Saturday’s practice focused heavily on defensive strategies, and now the emphasis is on translating that into game performance.
