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Liberty Teammate Gives Surprising Update on Jonquel Jones After Scary Injury

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Deveney | Last updated Jun 20, 2025 12:39 AM ET

Perhaps it looked worse than it really was. That is a low bar, though, because in watching the injury suffered by Liberty star Jonquel Jones on Thursday night in the team's loss to the Mercury, it looked like Jones might be out a while.

Jones was injured early in the second quarter of the game as she rolled to the rim off a pick-and-roll play that saw her gain a layup opportunity. But she collided with Sun help defender Sami Whitcomb and hit the floor hard, appearing to grab at her right knee.

The set-up of the play had observers fearful of a serious knee injury, perhaps an ACL tear. There was some relief when the Liberty later announced that Jones, a five-time All-Star who is averaging 13.4 points and 10.3 rebounds, had suffered an ankle injury, not a knee injury.

Then again, the Liberty had just gotten Jones back after she suffered a right ankle injury on June 5 vs. the Mystics. She had just returned to the lineup on Tuesday.

Coach Sandy Brondello said after the game, an 89-81 Phoenix win, that it was too early to tell how serious Jones's injury would be this time around. "Obviously, she's--unfortunate injury, isn't it?" Brondello said. "Just got near some other people. Hopefully, she is OK, I don't know much at the moment."

Jonquel Jones left the game with a knee injury and won't return Thursday.
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But Daily News reporter Fiifi Frimpong offered a glimpse of hope in the situation. He writes that one Liberty teammate is not too concerned about Jones, a surprise outlook considering that Jones was helped off the floor:

"Moments after Brondello spoke at the postgame podium, Kennedy Burke said Jones was 'fine' after sustaining the injury. 'She always has a good attitude when something happens,' Burke said."

Of course, a good attitude is one thing. A good MRI will be a bit more reassuring.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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