The New York Liberty sent a message Wednesday night, and it wasn’t just that they can win. It was that they can dominate. Behind a vintage Jonquel Jones performance, the Liberty steamrolled the Toronto Tempo 97-82, making it three straight wins. But here’s what has insiders buzzing: Jones didn’t just play well — she played like a legend.
The 32-year-old center dropped 22 points and hauled in 17 rebounds, adding two blocks for good measure. According to sources close to the team, that stat line alone puts her in rarefied air. Jones now joins Tina Charles and Breanna Stewart as the only Liberty players in franchise history to notch multiple games with at least 15 points and 15 rebounds. Insiders say that this kind of company is exactly what New York needs to contend for another title.
Jones reportedly made history before the halftime buzzer even sounded. She scored 17 points and grabbed 12 boards in the first half — her first double-double in a half since joining the Liberty. One league analyst we spoke with called it “a statement half” that reminded everyone why she’s one of the most feared bigs in the WNBA. She also joined Tamika Catchings and Lauren Jackson as the only players ever to hit three 3-pointers and snag 12 rebounds in a single first half.
The Turning Point That Changed Everything
Down 20-17 after the first quarter, the Liberty could have folded. Instead, they unleashed a 15-2 run in the second that flipped the game on its head. According to multiple reports, the energy shifted when Jones started crashing the boards with purpose. New York took a 40-34 lead into the locker room and never looked back.
The third quarter was a knockout punch. The Liberty exploded for 30 points, stretching the lead to 70-58. Fans at the arena reportedly erupted as the momentum became unstoppable. One source inside the locker room told us the team “felt unbeatable” during that stretch.
Stewart and the Supporting Cast Rise to the Occasion
Breanna Stewart wasn’t about to let Jones have all the glory. She finished with 19 points and nine rebounds, with 17 of those points coming after halftime. Insiders note that Stewart’s second-half surge was crucial, and she now joins Tina Charles as the only Liberty players with 50-plus games of at least 15 points and eight rebounds. That’s the kind of consistency that championship runs are built on, sources say.
The depth of this roster is reportedly making other teams nervous. Marine Johannes poured in 15 points and became the first WNBA player this season to reach 30 made 3-pointers. Leonie Fiebich added 14 points and four assists. Satou Sabally dropped 12 points in just 14 minutes off the bench. And rookie Pauline Astier? She finished with 10 points and a game-high five assists.
“Six players in double figures is a franchise record,” one insider pointed out. “That’s not a fluke. That’s a team that’s clicking at the right time.”
The Liberty shot 14-for-32 from deep, outrebounded Toronto for the second straight game, and set a season high with 11 offensive boards. According to reports, this kind of balanced attack has the front office quietly believing this squad could make a deep postseason push.
The Tempo, meanwhile, dropped to 5-5 despite 17 points each from Marina Mabrey and Brittney Sykes. The loss snapped Toronto’s two-game winning streak and came in Sandy Brondello’s return to New York — the coach who led the Liberty to their first WNBA championship in 2024. One observer noted that the emotional stakes were high, and the Liberty clearly wanted to make a statement.
What does this mean going forward? Sources say the Liberty are building something special. If Jones keeps playing at this level, and Stewart continues to deliver in clutch moments, New York might not just be good — they might be unstoppable.
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