Liberty's Jonquel Jones ‘pissed' she wasn't named All-Star starter

New York Post

2 days ago

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Liberty center Jonquel Jones didn't sugarcoat her disappointment when it came to the fact a sprained ankle derailed her All-Star-worthy start.
'I'm pissed,' she said after practice Wednesday. 'I'm not even gonna lie about it, I'm really upset about it.'
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Jones has been named an All-Star in five of the past seven seasons, including 2024.
Earning a sixth All-Star nod was the 'one personal goal' Jones had for herself this season.
The 2024 WNBA Finals MVP was on track to make her All-Star aspirations a reality.
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In her first nine games, Jones averaged 15.3 points and 11.3 rebounds while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from deep.
Jones initially sprained her right ankle June 5 in Washington. In her second game back, she aggravated the ankle injury when she landed on another player's foot after going up for a shot.
Earlier this week, Jones learned she wasn't named a starter for the 2025 WNBA All-Star game.
She's keeping her fingers crossed that she may be named one of the 12 reserves, which are determined by the league's head coaches.
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Liberty star Jonquel Jones, who is out again with an ankle injury, said she was 'pissed' about not being named an All-Star starter.
John Jones-Imagn Images
Though there's no minimum games played requirement to be named an All-Star, Jones knows her being sidelined may impact her chances.
'We'll see when it comes [out] but I'm definitely upset about it,' Jones said. 'Obviously I was playing well enough to be an All-Star again and it's something that I expect of myself every year as well. So we'll see. But if it happens that I'm not, then I'm definitely going to be very upset.'
Being left out of the main event of All-Star weekend — scheduled for July 18-19 in Indianapolis — is just one of the challenges Jones has had to come to grips with since reinjuring her ankle in the Liberty's June 19 loss against the Mercury.
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Jones has had no choice but to watch from the sidelines as the Liberty struggled on their 10-day road trip, going 1-3.
Jonquel Jones, who is out with an ankle injury again, goes up for a shot during the Liberty's loss to the Mercury on June 19, 2025.
NBAE via Getty Images
'It's been hard to see it,' Jones said. 'It's been difficult. … But I think there are some things that we can control as a team to help us just look better out there and kind of help us be closer to winning.'
The Liberty play their next eight games in Brooklyn and aren't scheduled to hit the road again until their July 28 game in Dallas.
Jones said the lengthy home stand should be good for her recovery considering swelling has been one of her biggest issues with the sprain. She also welcomed the chance for some normalcy, despite the setback.
'I can see my dogs every day and they make me happy,' Jones said. 'I can do my regular walks and stuff like that and just kind of get into that routine of just when I'm showing up to the gym, when I'm doing rehab, when I'm doing conditioning and all that stuff.'
Jones can also host 'Love Island' watch parties with her teammates in her Brooklyn apartment.
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The Liberty announced June 21 that Jones would miss four to six weeks. About two weeks into her rehab process, Jones said she doesn't have a target date to return to play. But she did say she's feeling better.
'I'm in a good spot,' she said. 'Just making sure that I'm as close to 100 percent as possible before I get back on the court and yeah, just take it from there.'