The Connecticut Sun’s forward Jonquel Jones capped off her impressive 2021 WNBA campaign with the league’s highest individual honor. Jones averaged 19.4 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.3 blocked shots, and 1.3 steals during the regular season and was deservingly named the recipient of the WNBA MVP award for 2021 on Tuesday.
Jones received 48 first-place votes from the 49 voters to finish comfortably ahead of the competition. Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner was given the remaining first-place vote to help her finish second in the voting, while Seattle Storm forward Breanna Stewart rounded up the top three.
By picking up MVP honors, Jones became the only WNBA player in history to win all three major individual awards. She received the WNBA Most Improved Player Award and the WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year award back in 2017.
Jones’ spectacular performances also scored her third All-Star appearance this year alongside third rebounding title and second inclusion in WNBA All-Defensive First Team. With Jones leading the way, the Sun finished with a league-best 26-6 record.
“What does it take [to be] an MVP-type player, not just a great player?”, Sun head coach Curt Miller said of Jones via ESPN. “It’s her ability to continue to keep adding to her game and play both sides of the ball.”
Jonquel Jones also found success on the international stage this year, representing Bosnia and Herzegovina at EuroBasket Women 2021. Jones led the country to a top 5 finish while making the FIBA EuroBasket Women All-Tournament Team.
