The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Connecticut Sun lost their first game of the 2021 WNBA season, but Jonquel Jones delivered another standout performance that has her mentioned by many pundits in their early projections for league MVP.

Jones posted her fifth consecutive double double with 28 points and 13 rebounds - both season highs - in the Sun’s 90 - 87 overtime loss to the Seattle Storm Tuesday night at the Angel of Winds Arena in Seattle, Washington.

Jones shot 10-19 from the field and also added three steals, three assists, and two blocked shots in 41 minutes.

“My confidence doesn’t waver. That’s one of the biggest aspects that doesn’t change about my game this year... just being mentally prepared and I can get to the places I want to get on the court.”

The game was the finale in a five game road-trip for the Sun, who top the league standings at 5-1.

Jones got the better of her individual matchup with reigning finals MVP and UMMC Ekaterinburg teammate Breanna Stewart who finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds.

The Sun trailed 87-84 with less than three minutes play but Stewart answered with a three pointer.

“I think they got us with fatigue. This was a very tough road swing -- it was game, travel, play... for us, there was a couple of times we needed a time out. Guarding Stewie is a different assignment than anyone I’ve ever guarded,” Jones said, “It was just being locked in, we got them in the actions we wanted them in, and we had the right things, but that last thing at the end of the possessions where we weren’t able to execute and they were able to score.”

The Sun rallied late in regulation to force overtime but the defending champions got off to an 8-0 start in the extra period to stay ahead for good.

“That was a tough one tonight. We were just so close. The run they made early in overtime kind of had us playing catch-up. A couple of missed assignments, a couple of small things,” Jones said, “I’m just really proud of the team. We played a tough early schedule and walked away with one loss, and it was a loss where if we just did a few little things, we would’ve been in the win column.”

Through six games, Jones is averaging 20 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. She is shooting 60 percent on two-point shots and 45 percent from three-point range. She leads the league in PER (30.9) and Win Shares (1.7).

It was also the Sun’s first game this season without head coach Curt Miller who was fined $10,000 and received a one-game suspension from the WNBA after making a disparaging remark about Las Vegas Aces star Liz Cambage on Sunday night.