The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THREE-time WNBA All-Star Jonquel Jones will have a busy All-Star weekend as she prepares to vie for the title of the league’s best long-range shooter.

The Connecticut Sun forward was one of four players selected to compete in the MTN DEW 3-Point Contest, July 14 during Halftime of the AT&T WNBA All-Star Game, hosted Wednesday, July 14 at the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Jones will vie for the title alongside Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm), Allie Quigley (Chicago Sky), and Sami Whitcomb (New York Liberty). Quigley is a two-time winner and will compete in her fourth event while Jones, Lloyd and Whitcomb will all make their debut.

Each competitor has 70-seconds (1:10) to shoot as many of the 27 balls as they can. Four players will compete in a two-round, timed shooting competition. The two players with the highest scores advance to the Final Round.

Jones is shooting 44 percent from three-point range and her 31 three point makes through just 15 games are on pace to set a new single season career high. Her previous career high is 50 three-point field goals made in 34 games of the 2018 season.

Jones was named to the WNBA All-Star game for the third time in her five year career. Through 15 games of the first half of the season, Jones has averaged 21.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Established as a bonafide MVP candidate, Jones is shooting 54 percent from the field and 82 percent from the free throw line.

Jones will headline the “Team WNBA” side that will face off against “Team USA Basketball” in the league’s 17th All-Star Game on July 14 and broadcasted live by ESPN at 7pm local time.

This year’s All-Star Game will not feature a traditional East-West format, as a result of it taking place in an Olympic year, but will instead pit Team WNBA against Team USA, in what will likely be the US Olympic team’s toughest test prior to the Tokyo Olympics.

The 2021 AT&T WNBA All Star Game is one of many key elements of the celebration of the WNBA’s 25th season, which will continue to recognise the incredible achievements of players to date while also serving as a celebratory send-off of the WNBA players who will compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.