Liberty get promising Jonquel Jones injury update with fellow stars back to face Dream

The New York Liberty received positive injury updates ahead of their game against the Atlanta Dream. Natasha Cloud (hip) and Isabelle Harrison (knee), who each missed one game, practiced fully on Saturday and are expected to play on Sunday.

Significantly, 2024 WNBA Finals MVP Jonquel Jones participated in five-on-five practice for the first time since re-injuring her right ankle on June 19. Head coach Sandy Brondello noted Jones's immediate positive impact on the team but emphasized the need to build her stamina before returning to game action.

Jones originally suffered the ankle sprain and re-injured it during her second game back last month while landing awkwardly after a layup attempt, leading to an estimated 4-6 week recovery. Her absence has impacted the Liberty's defense around the paint and removed a consistent inside-outside scoring threat, as she was averaging 12.1 points and 9.6 rebounds prior to the injury.

Jones is taking a cautious approach to her recovery, aiming to be as close to 100% as possible. Her rehabilitation progressed from individual shots and bike work to the five-on-five session on Saturday.

Brondello stressed the importance of Cloud (averaging 10.1 points, 6.2 assists) and Harrison (a key bench piece in Jones's absence) returning for the physical matchup against Atlanta, citing the need for depth and different defensive looks. She also noted the team's defense has been "getting better," improving to the league's 5th-best defensive rating in early July after ranking 7th in June.