The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

A BUSY WNBA All-Star night for Jonquel Jones featured an MVP calibre performance in an historic win for Team WNBA and a second place finish in the MTN DEW 3-Point Contest.

Jones finished with 18 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocked shots in Team WNBA’s 93-85 win over the United States Olympic team last night at the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Jones shot 7-14 from the floor and 4-7 from three-point range in her third All-Star appearance of her five-year career.

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

At halftime, with her team clinging to a 44-43 lead, Jones shifted her focus to her debut in the MTN DEW 3-Point Contest. The first shooter in the field, she scored 27 in the opening round to beat out Jewell Loyd of the Seattle Storm and Sami Whitcomb of the New York Liberty.

Jones scored 24 in the final round but fell just short to Allie Quigley of the Chicago Sky who captured her fourth 3-Point Contest title in four appearances.

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 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.