Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones, two of the WNBA's top rebounders, have made controlling the glass a central focus for the New York Liberty. Their intensified effort on the boards has become a talking point between the All-Stars as the team aims to improve its performance.
"J.J. and I kind of, we talked [Sunday] … the thing that we need to do it every single day is double-double,” Stewart said following the Liberty's overtime victory against the Wings. “Double-double, no question because the rebounds are effort plays and really happy that we were able to control the boards and put pressure on the rim from getting downhill but also second-chance points.”
This renewed emphasis on rebounding appeared to yield significant results in their recent 99-98 win over the Dallas Wings. The Liberty secured 17 offensive rebounds, with Stewart, Jones, and Marine Fauthoux each contributing to a rare statistical feat. The trio all recorded double-doubles with points and rebounds, marking only the 10th occurrence in WNBA history for three teammates to achieve this in the same game, according to Liberty PR.
For Stewart, this game marked her first with at least 10 rebounds since June 21. The aggressive approach on the boards was a priority for both her and Jones as the team sought to end a four-game losing streak.
"It was a conversation," Jones commented on the need for double-doubles. "That’s something that I always strive for, but obviously just want to make sure I’m helping her in whatever way that I can and helping the team in whatever way I can."
Stewart's performance, which included a game-high 33 points and eight assists, was crucial in securing the victory. "That’s just what Stewie does," Jones added. "It’s her playing at a high level and doing all the things that make her a great player."
The Liberty are now set to face a struggling Sky team, with the team's dominant rebounding performance expected to be a key factor.
