Jonquel Jones Bio
Jonquel Orthea Jones is a Bahamian-Bosnian professional basketball player who currently plays for the New York Liberty of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Standing 6 ft 6 in, she has made a significant impact in women’s basketball since being drafted sixth overall in the 2016 WNBA draft. Throughout her career, she has earned numerous honors, including the WNBA Most Valuable Player award in 2021 and leading the Liberty to a WNBA championship in 2024.
Jones also excels internationally, having represented the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team since acquiring citizenship in 2019. Her combination of size, skill, and basketball intelligence has established her as one of the premier forwards in the women’s game.
Early Life and Background
Jonquel Orthea Jones was born on January 5, 1994, in Freeport, The Bahamas. She attended Tabernacle Baptist Academy in her home country before relocating to the United States at the age of 14. After moving to Maryland, she enrolled at Riverdale Baptist School in Upper Marlboro, where she sharpened her basketball talents and earned the nickname “Big Slim.”
During her high school years, Temple women’s basketball head coach Diane Richardson became her legal guardian, helping her navigate life away from her family in The Bahamas. The transition from the Bahamas to the United States shaped her competitive character and exposed her to high-level basketball competition at a young age.
Path to Basketball
Jones continued her basketball journey at the college level, first playing for the Clemson Tigers during the 2012–2013 season. After one year at Clemson, she transferred to George Washington University, where she played from 2013 to 2016. At George Washington, she emerged as one of the top players in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
In 2015, she earned both the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year awards, establishing herself as a dominant two-way talent. Her college performance positioned her as a top prospect heading into the 2016 WNBA draft.
Jonquel Jones Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
Jones was selected with the sixth overall pick in the 2016 WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. Her draft rights were immediately traded to the Connecticut Sun in exchange for Chelsea Gray and two draft picks, beginning her professional career in Connecticut. In her rookie season, she served as the backup center, averaging 6.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks across 34 games.
The following season marked her breakthrough, as she became the starting center for the Sun. She led the team to their first win of the season with 23 points and 21 rebounds against the Chicago Sky, becoming the 13th player in WNBA history to record a 20-point, 20-rebound performance. She set a then-single-season rebounding record with 403 boards, earning the WNBA Most Improved Player Award and her first All-Star selection.
Connecticut Sun Tenure (2018–2022)
In 2018, Jones transitioned to a sixth-man role and won the WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year award, while the Sun returned to the playoffs. By 2019, she reclaimed her starting position, leading the league in rebounding and blocks while earning her second All-Star nod. The Sun reached the WNBA Finals that year, their first appearance since 2005, though they fell to the Washington Mystics in five games.
Jones opted out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic but returned in dominant fashion in 2021. She led the Sun to a 26–6 record and the best mark in the league, averaging 19.4 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks. She was named the 2021 WNBA Most Valuable Player, becoming the first player in league history to win MVP, Sixth Woman of the Year, and Most Improved Player honors.
New York Liberty Era (2023–Present)
During the 2023 offseason, Jones requested a trade from Connecticut and was dealt to the New York Liberty on January 17, 2023. In her first year with the Liberty, she was named MVP of the 2023 Commissioner’s Cup after recording 16 points and 15 rebounds in the championship game. She then helped eliminate her former team in the 2023 WNBA semifinals.
In 2024, Jones led the Liberty to their first WNBA championship, scoring 17 points in the decisive Game 5 overtime victory over the Minnesota Lynx. She was named WNBA Finals MVP for her performance. She added a fifth All-Star selection and a fourth All-WNBA Second Team honor to her résumé.
Driving Style and Strengths
As a 6 ft 6 in power forward and center, Jones combines rare size with perimeter skills, allowing her to stretch defenses from beyond the arc while dominating the glass. She has led the WNBA in rebounding three times and in blocks once, reflecting her two-way impact. Her court vision and passing ability have made her a focal point of offensive systems for both the Sun and the Liberty.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among her signature achievements, Jones set a single-season rebounding record with 403 boards in 2017 before that mark was surpassed in 2018. In EuroBasket Women 2021, she set an all-time tournament record with 24 rebounds in a single game. Her 2021 MVP campaign and 2024 Finals MVP performance bookend one of the most decorated careers in recent WNBA history.
Jonquel Jones Career Wins
Across her career, Jones has accumulated titles and individual honors at the club, league, and international levels. She has won a WNBA championship, a WKBL championship in South Korea, and a Commissioner’s Cup championship with the Liberty, along with numerous individual awards spanning regular season, postseason, and conference play.
WNBA Highlights
Jones captured her first WNBA title in 2024 with the New York Liberty, capping the season with a Finals MVP award after a Game 5 overtime win over the Minnesota Lynx. She previously reached the WNBA Finals in 2019 with the Connecticut Sun, falling to the Washington Mystics in five games. Her individual WNBA honors include the 2021 MVP, the 2017 Most Improved Player Award, the 2018 Sixth Woman of the Year award, and five All-Star selections.
Other Wins and Performances
During the 2016–17 off-season, Jones won a Women’s Korean Basketball League championship with Asan Woori Bank Wibee and was named WKBL Foreign MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. She led Inner Mongolia of the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association to the WCBA finals in 2023–24 and added a 2023 Commissioner’s Cup title with the Liberty. In 2021, she was named Bosnian Sportswoman of the Year.
Jonquel Jones Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jones grew up in Freeport, The Bahamas, before moving to the United States as a teenager. While specific details about her parents are not publicly documented, her relocation to Maryland at age 14 marked a significant transition supported by her legal guardian, Temple women’s basketball head coach Diane Richardson.
Personal Life
Jones acquired Bosnian and Herzegovinian citizenship in May 2019, enabling her to represent the country internationally. In 2019, she adopted a goldendoodle puppy. Beyond these public details, Jones has kept much of her personal life private.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 WNBA season places Jones continuing her role with the New York Liberty as a cornerstone of the roster. Coming off the 2024 championship and Finals MVP honors, she enters the season with elevated expectations as both a leader and a primary interior presence for the defending champions. Her combination of scoring, rebounding, and defensive versatility remains central to the Liberty’s pursuit of another title.
Internationally, Jones joined Fenerbahçe for the 2025 overseas season, continuing her pattern of competing in top leagues during the WNBA offseason. Her experience across multiple international competitions adds to her conditioning and tactical awareness heading into each WNBA campaign.
Looking ahead, Jones will aim to build on her legacy as one of the most accomplished players of her generation, with sights set on additional championships, All-Star nods, and continued excellence on both ends of the floor for the New York Liberty.
