The Liberty are hitting the road to face off against Chicago on Thursday, and Jonquel Jones is gearing up for a tough battle. She’s expecting a dogfight, even though the Sky didn’t have the best start to the season. According to Jones, Chicago relies on their physicality to cover up their weaknesses, so the Liberty can’t afford to underestimate them. If they do, they might find themselves in a tough spot, down by a significant margin before they know it.
Chicago struggled in their season opener, committing turnovers and struggling with their shooting. Players like Courtney Vandersloot, Ariel Atkins, and Kia Nurse didn’t have the best performance, which could work in the Liberty’s favor. However, the Sky did show strength in rebounding, particularly on the offensive end. This could pose a challenge for the Liberty, who will need to match Chicago’s physicality to come out on top. Jones emphasized the importance of being prepared for the intensity of the game and being the first to make a move.
In other news, Marine Johannès announced that she won’t be playing for France in the upcoming EuroBasket tournament. While this is a loss for the French national team, it benefits the Liberty, as they will only be missing two players for the biennial event. Nyara Sabally and Leonie Fiebich are set to compete for Germany, leaving the Liberty with a more stable roster. Additionally, Rebekah Gardner is looking forward to returning to Chicago, where she started her WNBA career after playing overseas for several years. Her journey back to Chicago will surely evoke some emotions as she faces her former team in Thursday’s game.
