The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

JONQUEL Jones and the Connecticut Sun are off to a historic start in the 2021 WNBA season and are currently the league’s lone undefeated team.

Jones recorded her fourth consecutive double double - 19 points and 11 rebounds - to lead the Sun to a 72-65 road win Sunday over the Las Vegas Aces.

This is only the second time in franchise history that Connecticut has started the season at 5-0 (2018).

Jones is currently averaging 18.4 points, 10. 8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 55 percent from the floor, 50 percent from three point range and 75 percent from the free throw line.

Her field goal percentage is sixth in the league while her rebounding numbers are ranked second. The fifth year forward now has 43 double doubles on her career.

The Sun look to extend their win streak tonight when they face the defending WNBA champion Seattle Storm at 10pm local time.

ESPN, the Associated Press and Sports Illustrated all had the Sun ranked No. 8 in their preseason polls.

After Jones opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns, the Sun went 10-12 and advanced to the WNBA Semifinals.

“It just feels good to be back, playing with my teammates, playing with my sisters, definitely missed out on a great year last year and I was watching a lot of games and I wanted to be out there with them but I’m happy to be out there, happy to have this jersey on and happy to play in front of the fans again, she told CBS Sports Network following a May 16 win over the Indiana Fever, “It’s a lot of selfless people playing on the team I think we understand that and its helping our chemistry really quickly. There is still a lot of room left for improvement but I’m happy where we’re at, we just know we have to grow on it.”

In the league’s 25th season, they are also hosting the inaugural Commissioner’s Cup competition.

According to a league press release, “the Commissioner’s Cup is an in-season competition that designates a portion of regular-season games in the first half of the season - ten per team, 60 total - to count toward Cup standings. The Cup will have prize money of $500,000.”

The Cup games will be the first home game and first road game each team plays against its five conference rivals. The standings then determine an Eastern Conference team and a Western Conference team to meet for the championship, which will be played August 12 on Amazon Prime Video

The Suns are 2-0 in Commissioner Cup games thus far. Their next matchup is May 28 against the Washington Mystics.