Jonquel Jones has finally made her comeback. The reigning WNBA finals MVP, who had missed almost a month after aggravating an ankle injury, finally returned to court against the Indiana Fever last night. She initially suffered the injury on June 5 against the Washington Mystics. Initially feared to be a serious injury, Jones returned to court in two weeks.
However, in just her second game back, Jonquel suffered another setback. In a high-stakes clash against the Phoenix Mercury on June 19, she suffered yet another injury to the same leg. Driving towards the hoop, Jones was fouled by Sami Whitcomb. Due to the foul, she landed awkwardly and had to exit the game. The Liberty later released a statement saying that though Jonquel Jones has avoided a long-term injury, she would miss 4-6 weeks.
Although initially expected to miss more time, Jones made her return less than 5 weeks after the injury. In her first game back from injury, the New York Liberty faced the Indiana Fever. Though there were some concerns about Jonquel Jones having been rusty after the injury layoff, just 50 seconds into the game, she put it all to rest. Catching a pass from Leonie Fiebich, Jonquel Jones cashed in a corner 3-pointer for her and the Liberty’s first bucket of the night.
Her return from injury and subsequent bucket led to lots of fan reactions celebrating her return. Her shoe endorser, Nike, wasn’t far away as well. Reposting WNBA’s official X post, Nike had a poetic 7-word reaction on Jonquel’s jump shot and return. Nike Basketball reposted with caption, “ J so nice it’s in the name twice,” a clear anecdote on Jones’ name and jump shots.
J so nice it’s in the name twice. https://t.co/D02MExCT8Z
— Nike Basketball (@nikebasketball) July 23, 2025
Jonquel Jones didn’t show any signs of rust, and her return gave clear indications on how much the Liberty missed her during her absence. Although she only played 23 minutes in the game, she led the New York Liberty in both scoring (18) and rebounds (9). Her performance led the Liberty to an important win over the Indiana Fever. This victory was important to stay ahead of the Phoenix Suns and stay in the second spot. With the Minnesota Lynx already 3.5 games ahead, it is important to retain the second seed and get much home court advantage in the playoffs.
Jonquel Jones and Nike: A decade old journey
Jonquel Jones’ relationship with Nike started just after the 2016 WNBA draft. Just after her name was called as the sixth overall pick in the 2016 WNBA draft, Nike released a statement announcing her as one of the exclusive Nike athletes.
Oct 18, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; New York Liberty forward Jonquel Jones (35) warms up before game four of the 2024 WNBA Finals against the Minnesota Lynx at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
At the time of the deal, Jonquel’s current teammate, Breanna Stewart, was considered the marquee name in the deal. However, Jones’ performance and career since being drafted have led her to be one of the faces of Nike’s basketball division.
Jonquel Jones has consistently worn Kevin Durant’s Nike KD series. She eventually became one of the faces of this KD line and has been a part of the line’s marketing campaigns. As her marketability and stature grew, Jonquel Jones also received a player-exclusive variant of Nike KD 17. Her player-exclusive, Nike KD 17 “Bahamas,” was released on August 29, 2024. The colorway of this player-exclusive was a homage to Jonquel Jones’ home country and her career so far.
When Jonquel Jones got injured, there were concerns about a long-term lay-off. However, her return is a big boost for the defending champions with the WNBA season heading towards its business end. The Liberty is in a great place right now with a 16-6 record. Till now, they are 11-2 at home, and with Jonquel Jones finally back, this record is certain to grow.
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