The New York Liberty will have Jonquel Jones back in the lineup on Tuesday when they host the Indiana Fever, who again will be without Caitlin Clark.
Jones, a former WNBA MVP and the reigning Finals MVP, missed the past nine games due to a right ankle injury, but she wasn’t listed Monday on the Liberty’s injury report ahead of the Tuesday contest.
Clark, the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year, missed the Fever’s most recent game plus the All-Star Game on Sunday because of a right groin ailment.
“I think (Clark is) progressing,” Indiana coach Stephanie White said on Monday. “I think that we’re continuing to address everything that needs to be addressed. … We’re just going to continue to take it one day at a time and let her get her evaluations early this week, and then once we’ve done that hopefully we’ll have more of a clear (view) of what it looks like.”
Including the time she previously missed due to injuries to her left quadriceps and left groin, Clark will be absent from a 12th game this season. That total factors in the Commissioner’s Cup final, which doesn’t count in the regular-season standings.
The Liberty were 10-1 when Jones got hurt early in their June 19 game against the Phoenix Mercury. New York lost that game to kick off a 5-5 stretch, though the team has won its past three contests.
Jones, 31, is averaging 12.1 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists through nine games this season. She is a five-time All-Star.
Clark, 23, is putting up 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 8.8 assists through 13 games in her second consecutive All-Star campaign.
Just before the All-Star break, the Liberty beat the visiting Fever 98-77 on Wednesday behind 24 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists from Breanna Stewart. Kelsey Mitchell paced Indiana with 16 points.
–Field Level Media
