Liberty Downplay Injury Concerns Ahead of Playoffs

The New York Liberty are heading into the WNBA playoffs with key players Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones managing injuries, though the team is expressing confidence in their readiness.

Stewart, who sat out the Liberty's regular-season finale with left knee soreness, is expected to play in Sunday's Game 1 against the Minnesota Lynx. She described her condition as "incredible" and "great," downplaying the severity of a tweak she experienced in her knee after an accidental collision. Coach Chris DeMarco had previously called her absence precautionary.

Jonquel Jones' status is less certain as she rolled her left ankle in the team's second-to-last game. She was listed as "questionable" for the playoffs and was "almost" a full participant in Saturday's practice. Jones stated, "I feel good," when asked about her ankle, but added, "We're working through it. We'll see" regarding her availability for Game 1.

Despite the injury concerns, DeMarco expressed optimism about the team's overall health heading into the postseason. "It's scary end of the year," he said. "You want to be fully healthy going into the playoffs and so even the other night, the tweak with JJ's ankle, and of course, it's scary but we feel good. We feel like we're gonna be healthy going in."

The Liberty have faced numerous injuries throughout the season. Stewart and Jones were "almost" full participants in the team's final tune-up practice on Saturday.

The Minnesota Lynx are also managing their own injury concerns. Olivia Miles missed the final two games of the regular season with a calf injury but spoke with reporters on Saturday, appearing ready to play and expressing eagerness for the playoff atmosphere. "It's always electric in there," Miles said of Target Center, "but I can't imagine what it will be like tomorrow. I'm excited to feel the physicality of the game, obviously feel it out."