The Liberty could be as close to full strength Saturday as they’ve been in more than a month.
Barring any unforeseen setbacks, Jonquel Jones and Leonie Fiebich plan to play Saturday against the Indiana Fever, the two said after Friday’s practice.
Jones’ status was uncertain after her tweaked left ankle caused her to miss the final three quarters of Tuesday’s loss in Chicago.
But Jones said she’s feeling “good” and expects to be ready for the Liberty’s marquee matchup.
“I’m taped up, and of course a little bit of aggravation,” Jones said, “but nothing that’s crazy or that’s making me feel like I can’t go.”
Meanwhile, Saturday could be Fiebich’s first game since July 3 as she’s been dealing with a nagging left foot injury.
Fiebich’s workload has ramped up in recent days and she even joined the team on its one-stop road trip to Chicago earlier this week.
Fiebich, the team’s best point-of-attack defender, said she’s “very excited” to return to the Liberty lineup.
“Obviously, it’s been a while,” Fiebich said. “So yeah, I’m just ready. I wanted to play some games ago, but medical staff kept me a little bit. So I’m just very excited to get out there.”
Though the players were adamant they were going to play, coach Chris DeMarco pumped the brakes, saying he had to double-check with the team’s performance and medical staff about their readiness.
The Liberty have been at full strength for only two games this season.
Even if Jones and Fiebich return, New York will still be without Satou Sabally, who stepped away from the team earlier this month as she continues to deal with the aftereffects of suffering her second concussion in eight months.
Fiebich confirmed to German media this week that she “will definitely play” at next month’s FIBA World Cup, which is being held in Berlin.
Until then, though, Fiebich said her sole focus is the Liberty.
“Obviously, I’m very much of [the mindset to] be where your feet are,” Fiebich said. “Right now, I’m here. I’m gonna play tomorrow, and that’s my focus. Obviously, I know World Cup’s coming up, but that’s for later.”
Fiebich said she’s “very, very sad” for her Liberty and German teammate Sabally, who announced earlier this week that she won’t be playing in the World Cup because of injury.
“I would have loved to share the court with her for Team Germany,” Fiebich said. “We’re sad for her, especially because she’s just not feeling well. But yeah, I’m looking forward for her to get better, and then for many more games in the future.”
Nigerian forward Elizabeth Balogun joined the Liberty this week on a developmental contract. She replaces Marine Fauthoux, who signed a standard contract earlier this month.
DeMarco said the team is still working through what Balogun’s role will be, but he lauded her 3-and-D skill set.
“She’s a really good player,” he said. “And not just for now, like, going forward, we want her to be part of this thing and that’s why she’s here.”
