The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Jonquel Jones will play her first game outside of the WNBA since the 2021 season began when she leads Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH) at the upcoming 38th edition of FIBA Women’s EuroBasket Championships.

Jones and her side will open the tournament today against Group C favourite Belgium at 9am local time in Strasbourg, France.

Belgium currently has a FIBA world rank of No.6 and a European rank of No.3 while BIH is ranked the lowest in the group with a world rank of No.34 and a European rank of No.21.

Turkey is ranked No.7 in the world and No. 4 in Europe while Slovenia is ranked No.30 in the world and No.18 in Europe.

BIH will take on Turkey on Friday, June 18, at 6am local time and complete the Group Phase Sunday, June 18, against Slovenia at 6am local time.

Despite their ranking in the group, FIBA analysts see BIH as a likely contender to pull off an upset once Jones is available to play.

“Could Bosnia and Herzegovina be a dark horse in terms of the group itself and prove to be an unwanted fly in the ointment? As soon as the naturalised Jonquel Jones confirmed she was playing, their chances increased dramatically,” FIBA said. “Remember, they beat Russia on the road in the Qualifiers with her on board.”

Jones, the Connecticut Sun All-Star forward was named the WNBA’s Easten Conference Player of the Month for May and followed with the conference’s Player of the Week award,

Her brief hiatus from the Sun will continue through the FIBA’s Women’s Eurobasket Championships co-hosted between France and Spain, June 17-27.

The Sun are currently 8-3, third in the WNBA standings. In Connecticut’s first game without Jones this season, they were defeated 89-66 by the Seattle Storm.

The tournament also serves as part of European qualification for the 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, with the top six nations advancing to the qualifying tournaments.

Through 10 games this season, Jones is fourth in the WNBA in scoring at 21.6 points per game, leads in rebounds at 10.4 rebounds and also averages three assists and 1.2 blocks per game

She is also shooting 57 percent from the field and 49 percent from three point range.

Jones told The Day that she plans to return to the Sun on June 28 which means she would miss five games on the WNBA schedule while at the Eurobasket championships.

“It’s going to (stink). I understand the importance of (EuroBasket) and I’m proud to represent the Bosnian national team, but it’s a tough time to be going,” Jones said, “I feel like I have a good flow right now. I feel like things are trending upwards for (the team). I hate that I have to leave, but it’s necessary.”

In 2018, Jones made the decision to gain citizenship with Bosnia and compete for their national team to further her opportunities.

Jones made her debut with Bosnia and Herzegovina in November 2019.

Through four games of the Eurobasket Qualifiers, Jones averaged 24.5 points, 13.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.3 blocks per game on 50.7 percent shooting from the field.

In a win over Estonia, Jones finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and two blocked shots and finished with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks in a loss to Russia. She added 26 and 16 points in a win over Switzerland and 29 points and 16 rebounds in a win over Russia.