What Happened to Jonquel Jones? Scary Visuals Emerge During Washington Mystics vs NY Liberty Game

Well, there’s something serious going on in the W. While injuries are part of the game, seeing top players sidelined is a tough blow—not just for the teams, but for the fans too. With Paige, CC, and others already out, another big name has just been added to the list. And it is none other than – Jonquel Jones.

It all happened early in the first quarter of the New York Liberty’s game against the Washington Mystics. Jonquel Jones appeared to go up for a shot, and the next moment—she was on the floor. As the doctors rushed to her side, the pain on her face was crystal clear. Soon after, she was helped off the court and led straight to the locker room. She didn’t return for the rest of the game.

At first, it wasn’t clear what had happened. The replays didn’t show much, but the moment Jones grabbed her ankle, it all clicked. It looked like she had rolled it after landing on the foot of Mystics rookie Kiki Iriafen while going up for a bank shot in the paint. And just like that, her night was over. She finished with just three points, four rebounds, and one assist in under six minutes before being sidelined.

Jonquel Jones was helped off the court with an apparent ankle injury.

Jones leads the Liberty with 5 double-doubles this season. pic.twitter.com/PNwImFaiGO

— espnW (@espnW)

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time this season that Jones has been forced to exit due to injury. Earlier, she missed a game against the Valkyries with right hamstring soreness—marking her second regular-season absence since 2023. Notably, before being traded from the Sun to the Liberty, JJ had suffered a significant foot injury that clouded the start of her 2023 season. But with New York, she entered a new chapter filled with high expectations. The reality, though, was tougher than she anticipated. Jones began that season rehabbing her injured foot, which not only limited her explosiveness but also delayed her integration into the Liberty’s system.

She wasn’t just healing physically; she was learning an entirely new playbook, adapting to a different coaching philosophy under Sandy Brondello, and adjusting to a new role within a star-studded roster. While she still averaged 11.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in 2023, she constantly battled with confidence. “I felt like I didn’t know what the fans thought,” she admitted, recalling the insecurity she experienced during an autograph signing session following the final game of the regular season. But that very moment—interacting with Liberty fans who showed her nothing but love and support, became the turning point. “There’s no way I’m not coming back to New York,” she said, her resolve renewed. It was clear to her: New York was home.

And the result? A completely revitalized Jones in 2024. She went on to post the second-highest effective field goal percentage (61%) in the league, as well as recording a career-best 38.1% from beyond the arc. And her playmaking? Off the charts. That’s exactly how she earned Finals MVP last season, putting up a team-high 17 points in the title game. So yes, it makes perfect sense why the Liberty needs her now more than ever.

With Jones out, Liberty’s unbeaten run faces a big test!

No doubt, the Liberty are cruising smoothly with eight wins under their belt in the 2025 regular season, but the road ahead won’t be as easy as it may seem. Especially now, as the chasing pack smell some weakness in JJ’s absence. None more so than the Lynx, who would want to get one over the Liberty after what happened in last year’s finals.

Even though the side from the Big Apple managed to pull off an 86-78 victory over the Mystics, concerns about the future still linger. As of now, the team hasn’t released an official update on Jones’ injury. But the fact that she was ruled out so quickly doesn’t exactly inspire confidence regarding her short-term availability.

This is as much of a blow to JJ as it is to the Liberty. She’s been playing some of her best basketball since her MVP season in 2021, averaging 15.7 points across six games, along with 11.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.5 blocks per contest. With Lynx also riding high in their current eight-game winning streak, the margin for error is negligible for New York.

Liberty needs Jonquel Jones back – ASAP – if they hope to retain their title and keep the Lynx and the chasing pack at bay.

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