The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

IN her return to the WNBA, Jonquel Jones showed flashes of the dominance expected to come this season for the Connecticut Sun.

Jones finished with 15 points and six rebounds in just 14 minutes of the Suns’ 94-78 preseason win over the Atlanta Dream yesterday at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

The regular season opener will be May 7 on the road against the New York Liberty and the home opener follows on May 14 when the Sun host the Los Angeles Sparks at the Mohegan Sun.

The Sun are expected to trim the roster to just 11 players headed into the regular season.

A promising 2021 season saw the Sun franchise produce the MVP, Most Improved Player, Coach of the Year, set franchise records in wins, winning percentage, and points allowed.

The Sun finished the regular season 26-6 but the year ended in a disappointing fashion with a loss to the eventual champion Chicago Sky in the semifinals.

“We’ve been talking about championship or bust, last year was a bust because we didn’t get a championship,” Jones said during training camp. “This year is the year to finish things and we feel that and we know that.”

In addition to league MVP, she was also named to the All-WNBA First Team, All-Defensive First Team, the Associated Press Player of the Year and AP First-Team Honours.

She also won the WNBA Peak Performer Award as the league’s top rebounder for the third time in the last five seasons and was named the WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the months of May, August, and September.