The Liberty’s roster is deep and star-studded—arguably the deepest roster in the league once Emma Meesseman joins the team. Unsurprisingly, the Liberty have the second-best record in the league and are one of the favorites to win it all.
When a team has such a strong and deep roster, it can be difficult to pinpoint one distinctive difference-maker. Every player in the Liberty’s rotation helps the team win. However, Jonquel Jones has emerged as the Liberty’s clear X-Factor and perhaps the key to realizing the team’s dream of repeating.
Struggling with an ankle injury, Jones has only played ten games this season. She played over ten minutes in eight of those ten games and the Liberty haven’t lost a single one. All of the Liberty’s six losses came when Jones either couldn’t suit up at all or had to leave the game early.
What makes Jones such an obvious difference-maker for the Liberty is her versatility.
Jonquel Jones is one of the most versatile bigs in the game
New York is a different team without Jonquel Jones. They miss her presence in every aspect of the game. Head coach Sandy Brondello reiterated Jones’s importance after the team’s 98-84 win over the Indiana Fever. It was Jones’s first game back since mid-June, but she came close to a double-double and led the Liberty in scoring.
“Obviously she’s big and strong, but she’s so versatile and you have to scout her,” Brondello said about the 2024 Finals MVP. “Inside, outside. It opens up the floor, but then…you’re bringing two to her in the post-up, and she’s a great passer as well. It’s just the gravitational pull that she brings in and, I mean, she can do everything. She can do everything for us at both ends of the floor.”
At 6’6, Jones isn’t just the tallest player on the Liberty’s roster but also one of the tallest players in the entire league. Only Brittney Griner, Kalani Brown, Kamilla Cardoso, Li Yueru, and Teaira McCowan are taller. Despite her size, Jones isn’t a traditional big who exclusively does her damage in the paint.
Jones is great in the paint, shooting 55.6 percent in the restricted area for the season, and can regularly grab close to ten rebounds. At the same time, Jones has a great 3-point shot. Last season, when she only missed one game, she shot 38.8 percent on 3.9 attempts from three. That shot has also been falling this season.
As Brondello said, opposing teams can never leave Jones alone, no matter where she is. Once she gets position in the paint, few players can guard her one-on-one. Jones can also deal with a double-team, though. Last season, she led all centers in assists per game, showcasing her ability to make the right pass and find her teammates.
Jones’s first game back bodes well for the second half of the Liberty’s season
Jonquel Jones played only 23 minutes in her first game back. Despite the limited minutes, she led the team in scoring with 18 points. She also grabbed nine rebounds, dished out two assists, and got a block.
Getting Jones back in such great shape after a lengthy absence is a good sign for the Liberty’s title chase.