WNBA teams that could make playoffs with a push
In a way-too-early playoff discussion, the Studio IX crew breaks down which teams need to push right now in the season to make it to the playoffs.
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New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones recently received her first technical foul in more than a year.
During a 106-92 loss to the Indiana Fever on Aug. 11, the Liberty center was setting up a play for her teammates at the 1:18 mark of the third quarter when she made contact with Fever forward Monique Billings, who was defending her. Billings pushed Jones, but the WNBA veteran shed the contact and moved into the paint.
She then briefly encountered contact from Sophie Cunningham, who also defended her. Cunningham later moved away from Jones after a ball went off the Indiana guard and out of bounds. As the ball was inbounded moments later, Billings was matched up on Jones again. During the sequence, Jones threw up her arms, shedding the contact Billings was attempting.
At the 1:10 mark, Cunningham received a foul for grabbing Liberty guard Marine Fauthoux. While the whistle was stopped for the play, Jones (away from the ball) began an exchange with a nearby referee to let them know she felt a call was missed for off-ball contact.
It’s unclear what Jones said to the official, but the Liberty center received a technical foul. Jones was still expressing her displeasure when Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell was asked to shoot the technical free throw. Mitchell attempted the shot but missed.
Jones hadn’t picked up a regular-season technical foul since May 27, 2025, during a matchup with the Golden State Valkyries. She had two technical fouls during the 2025 season, both in May. The Liberty center has averaged two technical fouls per season since 2023.
The Liberty’s loss to the Fever snapped a four-game win streak. Indiana’s stars rose to the occasion with Mitchell, Caitlin Clark, and Aliyah Boston combining to score or assist on 87 of the Fever’s 106 points. The win extended the Fever’s single-season record of 100-point games to 15.
Jones, who is in her fourth season with the Liberty, finished with a double-double, finishing with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while adding three blocks and a steal. She was one of four New York players to reach double digits.