Latest news with #JonquelJones
New York Post
19 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Liberty hold near-40 minute emergency meeting after ‘passive' effort in ugly loss to Wings
We've got you covered on the Liberty beat Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Madeline Kenney about all things Liberty and WNBA. tRY IT NOW ARLINGTON, Texas — There's no sugarcoating what happened Monday night at College Park Center. The Liberty may have lost to the Wings just 92-82, but the score is misleading. Because as inspiring as that fourth-quarter comeback attempt may have seemed, it couldn't make up for the pathetic way the team played for most of the game. Things were so bad Monday night that the Liberty held an emergency team meeting in the visiting locker room for close to 40 minutes after the loss. The team's slow starts and lack of effort — both ugly habits that have hurt it this season — were topics of discussion. 'Embarrassing. Frustrating. A bit disappointing because we know the level of play we hold ourselves to and the caliber of play that we played at in the past,' Jonquel Jones said. 'Use it as a learning opportunity and come out the next game and not to do it because it's been happening for a few games.' 3 Dallas Wings guard DiJonai Carrington (21) and New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones (35) battle for control of the ball during the second half at College Park Center. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect To be frank, not even the word 'embarrassing' could sum up how poorly the defending champions fared for most of the game. Early in the third quarter, New York looked like it was in jeopardy of suffering one of its most lopsided losses in the past few years at the hands of the Wings — a team that entered the game second to last in the WNBA standings. The Liberty may have managed to trim a season-high deficit of 30 points to six with less than two minutes to go, but that doesn't matter because the way the Liberty played for most of the game was absolutely unacceptable for a team that says it's serious about winning another title this season. Sure, New York was without Breanna Stewart (right leg) and Nyara Sabally (rest.) Kennedy Burke also was a surprising late addition to the team's injury report after she exited Saturday's game with a lower-body cramp. But the Liberty still have plenty of talent to handle the Wings, who had lost six of their previous seven games. The Liberty's condensed schedule shouldn't be an excuse either. Monday may have been New York's third game in four days, but the Wings had played a game 24 hours prior to taking the court Monday night. Furthermore, the Liberty had a day between games to prepare for this matchup. Did New York underestimate the Wings? Or look too far ahead in the schedule, knowing a WNBA Finals rematch is on the horizon? The Wings had the Liberty's number from the jump, and their lead grew steadily throughout the first half. 'Passive' was the way Sabrina Ionescu described the Liberty's play. '[We were] waiting to see what they were going to do instead of being able to be on our front foot and in attack mode,' she said. 3 Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the New York Liberty reacts to an officials call during the first half of a game against the Dallas Wings at College Park Center on July 28, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. Getty Images New York looked unorganized and often was trailing or out of position on defense, leading to uncontested looks for Dallas. The Wings took advantage of what the Liberty were giving them, shooting 58.7 percent from the field in the first half and 46.2 percent for the full game. New York surrendered 31 and 32 points in each of the first two quarters and trailed by 27 points at halftime. Covering the Liberty like never before Sign up for Madeline Kenney's Inside the Liberty, a weekly Sports+ newsletter. Thank you Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Check out more newsletters Ionescu said the way the Liberty played early was more of an indictment of the players than the coaching staff. 'It's never on the coaching staff, right? We're the ones that go out and play,' said Ionescu, who scored 16 of her 17 points in the second half. 'We're a team full of leaders that are always going to take accountability for the way that we come out. 'It's kind of a game we can use to learn about what happens when we come out that passive and just kind of rush, like, not being able to trust our offense and defense. And we just got to use it to propel us forward.' 3 New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello whistles to her team during the first half against the Dallas Wings at College Park Center. Jerome Miron-Imagn Images The Liberty did fight back — as they've done numerous times this season — and outscored the Wings 46-29 over the final 20 minutes. But it never should have gotten to the point it did. In the end, the Liberty couldn't climb out of the deep hole they dug early. Monday was one game in a season of 44. But complacency has been a recurring and troublesome theme for this team. The sobering looks on Ionescu, Jones and Brondello's faces after the loss suggested an ominous feeling leading into Wednesday, when the Liberty face the league-leading Lynx for the first time since last year's WNBA Finals. 'We got to focus on ourselves,' Ionescu said. 'We shouldn't be playing any differently because who we're matched up with, what their record is, how talented they are, there's not really any excuse for the way we come out. We need to value every single game. The regular season is almost over… It's a game that we got to be able to talk about what we want to fix and be able to go out there and do it.'
CBS News
19 hours ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Bueckers, Ogunbowale score 20 apiece and Wings defeat Liberty 92-82
Arike Ogunbowale had 20 points and 14 assists, Paige Bueckers scored 20 points and the Dallas Wings hung on to beat the New York Liberty 92-82 on Monday night despite making only one field goal in the fourth quarter. Dallas led 85-62 through three quarters but a 3-pointer from Aziaha James with about 7 minutes remaining was the Wings' only basket of the final period. New York outscored Dallas 20-3 over the first 8 1/2 minutes, capped by Jonquel Jones' 3-pointer that made it 88-82. Bueckers — with former UConn teammate Azzi Fudd in attendance wearing an "I Heart PB" T-shirt — finally scored for Dallas, making two free throws with 1:06 remaining. After Jones missed a jumper, DiJonai Carrington made two free throws for a 92-82 lead with 54 seconds left. The Wings led 31-19 after the first quarter and extended their lead to 63-36 at halftime, when Ogunbowale became the first player in WNBA history to have at least 15 points and 10 assists in one half. Jones had 18 points for New York (17-8), which was playing without Breanna Stewart because of a right leg injury and lost its second straight. Sabrina Ionescu scored 17. Luisa Geiselsoder had 14 points for Dallas (8-19). New York: Visits Minnesota on Wednesday in a matchup of the two conference leaders. Dallas: Hosts Atlanta on Wednesday.
Al Arabiya
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Ogunbowale, Bueckers score 20 apiece and wings hang on to defeat Liberty 92-82
Arike Ogunbowale had 20 points and 14 assists. Paige Bueckers scored 20 points, and the Dallas Wings hung on to beat the New York Liberty 92-82 on Monday night despite making only one field goal in the fourth quarter. Dallas led 85-62 through three quarters, but a 3-pointer from Aziaha James with about 7 minutes remaining was the Wings' only basket of the final period. New York outscored Dallas 20-3 over the first 8 1/2 minutes, capped by Jonquel Jones' 3-pointer that made it 88-82. Bueckers–with former UConn teammate Azzi Fudd in attendance wearing an I Heart PB T-shirt–finally scored for Dallas, making two free throws with 1:06 remaining. After Jones missed a jumper, DiJonai Carrington made two free throws for a 92-82 lead with 54 seconds left. The Wings led 31-19 after the first quarter and extended their lead to 63-36 at halftime when Ogunbowale became the first player in WNBA history to have at least 15 points and 10 assists in one half. Jones had 18 points for New York (17-8), which was playing without Breanna Stewart because of a right leg injury and lost its second straight. Sabrina Ionescu scored 17. Luisa Geiselsoder had 14 points for Dallas (8-19). Up next New York: Visits Minnesota on Wednesday in a matchup of the two conference leaders.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Liberty's Jonquel Jones to make official return vs. Fever
The post Liberty's Jonquel Jones to make official return vs. Fever appeared first on ClutchPoints. The New York Liberty will attempt to replicate the result they got the last time against the Indiana Fever when they take on them at the Barclays Center on Tuesday. The Fever's three-game winning streak was snapped by New York in the absence of Caitlin Clark on July 16, with Breanna Stewart recording a massive 24 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. This time around, they will also have Jonquel Jones to call upon as well, per ESPN. Jones is set to return to WNBA action after a lingering right ankle problem which has seen her being limited to just nine games this campaign. This will mark the first game for the 31-year-old forward since June 19. The Liberty have gone just 7-5 in Jones' absence after starting the season 9-0. They have missed the veteran's presence on both ends of the court, who has averaged 12.1 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting an impressive 43.8% from beyond the arc. Jones had previously picked up the injury in early June before reaggravating it against the Phoenix Mercury. With Brianna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Natasha Cloud all fit and firing as well, Jonquel's return may mean that the Fever have their work cut out. Their troubles will be compounded considering Caitlin Clark's continued absence. The two-time All-Star is confirmed to miss her 12th game of the season. She has averaged 16.5 points, 8.8 assists and five rebounds per game, and was a huge miss during the teams' recent matchup, which the Liberty won 98-77. In that game, Breanna Stewart powered the Liberty with 24 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, and four blocks. Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana with 16 points, but without Clark orchestrating the offense, the Fever struggled to keep pace. Clark, who was selected as an All-Star captain alongside Napheesa Collier, did not participate on the weekend but is understood to be close to a return. Related: Liberty land Emma Meesseman over Lynx, Mercury in WNBA return Related: Liberty add veteran frontcourt presence to roster
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Liberty coach Sandy Brondello explains the ‘gravitational pull' of Jonquel Jones
The post Liberty coach Sandy Brondello explains the 'gravitational pull' of Jonquel Jones appeared first on ClutchPoints. Jonquel Jones might not be the best player in the WNBA by pure statistics, but by watching the New York Liberty this season, it's hard to think of many who are more important to their team. Just past the halfway point in the season, New York is 17-6, but 10-1 when Jones is in the lineup. The reigning WNBA Finals MVP missed over a month of action with a knee injury, and the Liberty's one loss with her came in the game she was injured and played only nine minutes. In her two games since returning, she has averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds with the Liberty winning both games by double digits over teams they previously lost to. 'Obviously she's big and strong, but she's so versatile,' head coach Sandy Brondello said before Jones made her return against the Indiana Fever last week. 'You have to scout her now inside. Outside, it opens up the floor, but then bringing two to her and the post up, and she's a great passer as well too. It's just the gravitational pull that she brings in.' Brondello has brought up the term 'gravitational pull' several times, and it's part of what makes the Liberty so deadly when they're healthy. Opponents already have plenty to plan for with Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart on the court, not to mention Leonie Fiebich and Kennedy Burke, two of the best shooters in the league. Adding Jones to the equation further stretches the defense and makes it necessary to guard virtually every square inch of the half-court — and that's assuming Jones is stationed in the post and not creating mismatches with her ability to step out to the perimeter. The Liberty have their guard-post combo back Jones had her customary double-double in the Liberty's 89-76 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Friday, but it was Ionescu who stole the show with 29 points and eight assists. With Jones, Ionescu and Stewart now in their third year as teammates, it's easy to see the chemistry between them. In the fourth quarter on Friday, it came through a pair of assists from Ionescu to Jones. And if you ask Ionescu, Jones should get credit for assists via the screens she sets for her point guard. 'That's probably one of the most important relationships that you have as a point guard is with your post player, and from the moment that she got here we've been working on that synergy and chemistry on the court of finding ways to help one another,' Ionescu said. 'Obviously it doesn't go unnoticed all the assists JJ could be having for me with the screens that she sets and her passing ability that we all know.' Going forward, expect to see Ionescu finding Jones more off the pick-and-roll. 'She sets those great screens and so we're continuing to just find ways to continue to grow together in our relationship,' Ionescu said. 'Being able to read off one another and knowing what she needs at what time and obviously as a point guard that's my job. I hold myself to a really high standard to make sure that I can play a little part in her success.' Jones' return comes at a good time for the Liberty. They finish off a back-to-back on Saturday at home against the Los Angeles Sparks before hitting the road for four games and playing every other day for the next 10. Related: Liberty injury report for Sparks clash Related: Steve Nash, Sabrina Ionescu, Tyler Herro star in hilarious Nike Sabrina 3 ad
