Liberty Survive Jonquel Jones Injury in Win Over Mystics

Having lost their doctor, the New York Liberty had the right remedies to escape the nation's capital with another win.

In the wake of Jonquel Jones' early exit due to an ankle injury, Breanna Stewart put up a double-double while Sabrina Ionescu made history from deep in the Liberty's 86-78 victory over the Washington Mystics at CareFirst Arena on Thursday.

Jones left Thursday's game after rolling her ankle on the landing of a first period shot attempt but the Liberty (8-0) had just enough to escape the young, spirited Mystics, who fell to New York at home for the second time in six days. The defending WNBA Finals MVP attempted to return to the game after halftime but was eventually ruled out for its remainder during third quarter action.

Stewart put up a 26-point, 11-rebound double-double while Ionescu struggled from the field (3-of-17) but became the Liberty's all-time leader in a successful three-pointers at 401 in her career, passing Crystal Robinson's long-standing franchise mark.

With Jones out, seafom reserves rose to the occasions: Rebekah Gardner was a team-best plus-14 in just over 12 minutes, Isabelle Harrison had a crowded box score with seven points, five rebounds, and two steals. Kennedy Burke scored all 12 of her points on a perfect 4-of-4 tally from three-point range.

New York trailed by five after the eventful opening period but fought back with a dominant second period that saw them shoot over 58 percent from the field. Gardner sank two shots and was a plus-15 in eight minutes, as all Liberty reserves, including Marine Johannes, were at least a plus-six in the second. Burke's final triple, sunk with three seconds left in the third, gave the Liberty its larges lead of the night at 16.

That allowed New York to eek out a one-point in the third period but the young Mystics (3-5), inspired by sterling defense from Shakira Austin and Jade Melbourne, creeped back into the game by allowing the Liberty to shoot just 3-of-13 in the final 10. Washington whittled the lead down to six with just over four minutes remaining but metropolitan momentum was regained by Harrison turning an interception of Melbourne into a three-point play.

That still wasn't enough to fully put away the Mystics, who put up a quick six to narrow the gap to four. Free throws from Stewart and Ionescu allowed the Liberty to finally exhale and take a historic win back home.

Breanna Stewart — Brandon Todd, NY Liberty

Fresh off Rookie of the Month honors, Kiki Iriafen fell just short of a double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds while Melbourne scored 15 and Austin had 11 boards off the bench, seven alone in the final frame. The Liberty won't have to deal with the Mystics again until the final stages of the season, as Washington visits Brooklyn in late August and the home finale on Sept. 9.

Thursday's win also gave the Liberty their best start in franchise history, becoming the ninth WNBA team to win its first eight games in a season. Two teams have accomplished the feat in the same year for the first time since 2016, as the Liberty are joined in such fame by the Minnesota Lynx, their opponent in last year's WNBA Finals. Three of the prior seven to win their first eight have won the championship.

The Liberty are back in action on Tuesday night when they return to Brooklyn to host the Chicago Sky (8 p.m. ET, ESPN). It'll be another emotion occasion at Barclays Center as Windy City veteran Courtney Vandersloot will receive the championship ring she received with the Liberty last season.

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