Jonquel Jones Bio
Jonquel Orthea Jones, born on January 5, 1994, in Freeport, The Bahamas, is a Bahamian professional basketball player for the New York Liberty of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). A 6’6″ power forward and center, she has established herself as one of the most dominant frontcourt players of her generation. Jones was drafted with the sixth overall pick in the 2016 WNBA draft and has since built a résumé that includes the 2021 WNBA MVP award and a 2024 WNBA championship. She also holds citizenship of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which she acquired in 2019, and has represented that country in international competition.
Early Life and Background
Jones was born and raised in The Bahamas, where she attended Tabernacle Baptist Academy. Her physical gifts were evident from an early age, and she earned the nickname “Big Slim” during her formative years. At age 14, she relocated to Maryland to pursue stronger basketball opportunities, enrolling at Riverdale Baptist School. The transition to a new country and a more competitive basketball environment proved pivotal in shaping her career trajectory.
During her time in Maryland, Jones found a supportive guardian in Temple women’s basketball head coach Diane Richardson, who stepped into a legal guardian role. That stability allowed Jones to focus on her development as a player and to handle the demands of balancing school with elite-level training. Her high school years at Riverdale Baptist School helped position her as one of the top recruits in her class.
Path to Basketball
Jones continued her basketball journey at the collegiate level, first attending Clemson before transferring to George Washington. At George Washington, she blossomed into one of the most productive players in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Her dominance on both ends of the floor during the 2014–15 season was recognized with the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year honors, establishing her as a surefire professional prospect.
Following her standout college career, Jones declared for the 2016 WNBA draft, where she was selected sixth overall by the Los Angeles Sparks. Her draft rights were immediately traded to the Connecticut Sun in exchange for Chelsea Gray and two future draft picks, setting the stage for the next phase of her professional career. That transaction gave the Sun the building block they needed to become a perennial contender in the league.
Jonquel Jones Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
As a rookie in 2016, Jones served as the backup center for the Connecticut Sun, averaging 6.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks across 34 games while making six starts. The experience gave her a measured introduction to the professional ranks and an opportunity to learn behind more established veterans. Even in that limited role, she showed flashes of the talent that would soon make her a star.
In her second season, Jones was elevated to the starting center position and delivered a true breakout year. She opened the campaign by leading the Sun to their first win after an 0–4 start, recording 23 points and 21 rebounds against the Chicago Sky, becoming the 13th player in league history to post a 20-point, 20-rebound game. Jones set a single-season rebounding record with 403 boards, breaking Tina Charles’s previous mark of 398, and was named the WNBA Most Improved Player while earning her first All-Star selection.
Connecticut Sun Breakthrough (2018–2022)
Despite a reduced starting role in 2018, Jones remained effective off the bench and earned the WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year award as the Sun returned to the playoffs. The following season, she reclaimed the starting center job and led the league in rebounding while averaging career highs in blocks, steals, and minutes. Connecticut surged to a 23–11 record and the number 2 seed, eventually reaching the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2005, though the Sun fell to the Washington Mystics in five games.
After sitting out the 2020 WNBA season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jones returned in 2021 and put together the best year of her career. She led the Sun to the best record in the league at 26–6, capped by a 14-game winning streak, while posting averages of 19.4 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks. Her performance earned her the 2021 WNBA MVP award in near-unanimous fashion, making her the first player in league history to win MVP, Sixth Woman of the Year, and Most Improved Player honors.
Jones continued to anchor the Sun through 2022, earning another All-Star nod and another All-WNBA Second Team selection. Her tenure in Connecticut cemented her reputation as a perennial All-Star and a foundational piece of one of the league’s most consistent franchises.
New York Liberty Era (2023–Present)
During the offseason before the 2023 WNBA season, Jones requested a trade out of Connecticut and was dealt to the New York Liberty on January 17, 2023. She wasted little time making an impact in her new uniform, capturing the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup MVP after posting 16 points and a game-high 15 rebounds in the final. The Liberty later eliminated Jones’s former team in the semifinals of the 2023 WNBA Playoffs, three games to one.
The 2024 season brought the defining achievement of her professional career. Jones was named the WNBA Finals MVP after scoring 17 points in a decisive Game 5 overtime victory, a 67–62 win over the Minnesota Lynx that delivered the Liberty their long-awaited championship. The title also made Jones a WNBA champion, capping a journey that began as a rookie backup in Connecticut and culminated as the centerpiece of a championship contender in New York.
Driving Style and Strengths
Jones pairs rare size at 6’6″ with exceptional mobility, allowing her to operate as both a traditional post presence and a face-up scorer. Her rebounding instincts set her apart, and her length and timing make her an elite rim protector. On offense, she stretches defenses with her perimeter shooting, while her passing vision from the high post creates opportunities for teammates.
Notable Events and Milestones
Beyond her 2021 MVP and 2024 Finals MVP honors, Jones set the WNBA single-season rebounding record with 403 boards in 2017. She also set an all-time EuroBasket Women record with 24 rebounds in a single game during the 2021 tournament quarterfinals against France, finishing that contest with 29 points and 24 rebounds. Her ability to deliver in historic moments has defined her legacy.
Jonquel Jones Career Wins
Jonquel Jones has accumulated a wide-ranging collection of team and individual honors across multiple leagues and competitions. Her résumé includes a WNBA championship, a WNBA Finals MVP, a regular-season MVP, and a Commissioner’s Cup title. She has also captured championships and individual awards overseas in Korea and was named to multiple All-Star and All-Defensive teams throughout her career.
WNBA Highlights
Jones captured her first WNBA championship in 2024 with the New York Liberty and was named Finals MVP after scoring 17 points in the series-clinching Game 5 overtime win over the Minnesota Lynx. She added a Commissioner’s Cup title and Commissioner’s Cup MVP in 2023, her first season in New York. Her 2021 regular season produced the WNBA MVP award and an All-WNBA First Team selection, capping a campaign in which the Sun finished with the league’s best record at 26–6.
Other Wins & Performances
Overseas, Jones won a Women’s Korean Basketball League championship with Asan Woori Bank Wibee during the 2016–17 season and was named the WKBL Foreign MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. She also led Inner Mongolia to the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association finals during the 2023–24 season. With the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team, she was named to the FIBA EuroBasket Women All-Tournament Team in 2021 after a record-setting quarterfinal performance.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| WNBA | 1 | 5 | 0 |
Jonquel Jones Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jones was born and raised in The Bahamas before relocating to Maryland at age 14 to advance her basketball career. During her teenage years in the United States, she was taken under the wing of Diane Richardson, the Temple women’s basketball head coach, who became her legal guardian and provided the structure she needed to thrive.
Personal Life
Jones added a member to her household in 2019 when she welcomed a goldendoodle puppy into her life. Beyond that, she has kept much of her personal life out of the public eye while continuing to build one of the most decorated résumés in women’s basketball.
2025 Season Performance
Jones entered the 2025 WNBA season as the reigning Finals MVP and a central figure in the Liberty’s pursuit of a second consecutive championship. Her leadership and frontcourt production continued to anchor a New York roster built around veteran talent. The combination of her rebounding, rim protection, and perimeter shooting gave the Liberty a dependable interior presence on both ends of the floor.
Beyond her WNBA commitments, Jones took her talents overseas for the 2024–25 season with Sichuan Yuanda of the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association, extending a busy international schedule that has been a hallmark of her career. Her ability to balance overseas play with the demands of a championship-caliber WNBA schedule has remained a key storyline of her 2025 campaign.
Looking ahead, Jones’s continued partnership with the Liberty positions her as a cornerstone of the franchise’s title defense, while her sustained excellence keeps her in the conversation among the league’s elite players. Her blend of experience, size, and skill ensures that she remains a focal point of any team’s championship aspirations.