The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

JONQUEL Jones and the Connecticut Sun clinched a playoff spot in the 2021 WNBA playoffs and took sole possession of the league’s No.1 seed with their sixth consecutive win.

Jones scored a season low eight points, but a balanced team effort led to a dominant fourth quarter performance in their 72-67 win over the Las Vegas Aces Tuesday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

The Sun improved to 18-6, one game ahead of the Aces who lead the Western Conference at 17-7.

The Sun entered the fourth quarter with a 58-54 lead. Jones capped a 6-0 run with her layup to give the Sun a 64-54 lead with just over six minutes left to play.

Jones pulled down a game high 10 rebounds, and defensively, helped limit reigning WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson to just four points on 1-15 shooting from the field. “It proved to our group you can go toe-to-toe with the best of the best, even when a player [like Jones] might not have their typical night,” Sun head coach Curt Miller told the Hartford Courant.

The Sun will continue their five-game homestand with a back-to-back against the Los Angeles Sparks. Game one tonight at 7pm followed by game two on August 28.

Earlier this week, Jones was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the third time this season and 10th time in her WNBA career. The recognition comes after games played from Sunday, August 15 through Sunday, August 22.

Jones was also named the Kia WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month in June.

Jones is currently the WNBA leader on the boards at 11.1 rebounds per game and is fourth in scoring at 19.9 points per game. She is shooting 53 percent from the field and 39 percent from 3-point range.