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The 2024 champions looked every bit ready to run it back. They brought back their entire core, added Natasha Cloud’s grit, and later welcomed Olympic scoring star Emma Meesseman to the mix. For the first few weeks, everything seemed to hit. Nine straight wins, dominant performances, and the same swagger that carried them to the title a year ago. But just when it felt like history was about to repeat itself, injuries happened, starting with Jonquel Jones. After Jones went down, the dominoes started to fall. One by one, New York’s stars found themselves sidelined — Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Nyara Sabally — all dealing with injuries at different points. But none had it rougher the 2021 MVP, who spent most of the season fighting through pain. Jones managed to suit up for just 31 of New York’s 44 regular-season games, battling a nagging ankle injury that never truly healed. Her form took a noticeable dip, leaving fans frustrated and concerned. And when it mattered most, things went from bad to worse. In the Liberty’s season-ending Game 3 loss to the Phoenix Mercury, Jones finished with just three points, eight rebounds, and four assists. That defeat ultimately cost head coach Sandy Brondello her job. This offseason, though, the five-time WNBA All-Star wasted no time addressing the issue. Jones underwent surgery, revealing the news herself on Instagram. “Surgery done. Officially Day 1 of recovery,” she wrote, sharing a clip that showed her father sitting by her side. The Liberty star didn’t go into details about the procedure, but one thing’s for sure, she’s eager to leave this tough season in the rearview and return to her dominant self. Social media has since been flooded with love and support for Jonquel Jones after her surgery. Here’s a look at some of the heartfelt messages. Fans react to Jonquel Jones having surgery One fan on X shared a screenshot of Jones’ Instagram story with the caption,” Via Instagram Jonquel Jones announced she got surgery.” The post quickly drew reactions, with one fan replying, “Hang in there JJ @jus242 😀 🙏 praying for your healing 🙏” This season has been a tough one for Jones in terms of injuries. The 31-year-old Bahamian first sprained her right ankle in the Liberty’s 86-78 win over the Washington Mystics on June 5, then re-aggravated it during an 89-81 loss to the Mercury on June 19. The setback sidelined her for over a month, forcing her to miss 13 regular-season games in total. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports Another fan asked, “Ugh! Is that the same ankle she injured last summer?” And it is indeed the same right ankle that gave Jones trouble throughout the season. The 2024 WNBA Finals MVP finished the regular season averaging 13.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game. Compared to last season’s numbers — 14.2 points, 9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game — the impact of the injury might not jump out. But it was in the postseason where the true effect of that ankle became clear. Jones managed just 5.7 points across the three postseason games, a steep drop from the 15.5 points she averaged over 11 games last year. That’s the kind of impact a nagging ankle injury can have on even a star player. One fan even commented, “Yeah she su-ked. She was lazy out there for months. Showed 0 effort. Looked worse than Angel Reese and that is hard to do.” Of course, we now know why she was struggling — it wasn’t laziness at all. Calling the Bayou Barbie lazy doesn’t hold up either, considering she ended the season as the league’s rebounding leader. But in the community, Reese getting trolled has sadly become just another norm. Another fan wrote, “This is the 2nd player I’ve seen postpone surgery until after the season despite the injury occurring months beforehand. Why is this happening?” The first player they’re likely referring to is Seattle rookie Dominique Malonga, who recently underwent surgery to repair a tendon issue in her wrist. While you could argue these players are prioritizing their health, that logic only goes so far. They’re just as invested in their teams as the fans are and don’t want to weaken their squad during the most crucial part of the season. On top of that, sitting out in a league that doesn’t pay much can take a real financial toll, making the decision even more complicated. Jones is headed for free agency this offseason, along with Liberty stars Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and almost every veteran in the WNBA. But there’s plenty of reason for optimism. Stewart has already voiced her desire to return, and Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb said he has the “utmost confidence that they want to be back with us.” For fans, it looks like the core is likely to stay intact even if their coach hasn’t.
