The New York Liberty have been topped WNBA champions for the primary time within the franchise’s 28-year historical past Sunday night time. New York’s Jonquel Jones earned her first profession Finals MVP award, an achievement a very long time within the making.
Jones, the sixth general decide by the Connecticut Solar in 2016, had been to a few WNBA Finals — two with the Solar, one with the Liberty — in her eight-year profession previous to 2024. She led her group in scoring in every of the three sequence, however by no means was in a position to safe a Finals MVP award after being on the shedding finish every time.
That narrative was re-written following the Liberty’s time beyond regulation victory Sunday night time that earned Jones a long-awaited championship ring and allowed her the chance to lastly safe the Finals MVP trophy.
Overcome with feelings after the sport, Jones spoke on what the truth of lastly profitable a championship felt like.
“I might by no means dream of this,” Jones said. “You all know my story. You all know what number of instances I have been denied it. However it was delayed, that is all it was. I am so comfortable to do it right here.”
By the primary 4 video games of the sequence, Jones totaled 72 factors, 32 rebounds and shot a outstanding 50% from the three-point line. She led the group in scoring in Video games 1 (24) and 4 (21). It was her Recreation 5 efficiency, nonetheless, that cemented her legacy because the MVP of the Liberty’s Finals group.
Outdoors of Jones, the Liberty made a measly 27.4% of their photographs in Recreation 5. On the forefront of New York’s offensive troubles have been their most dominant offensive weapons, Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart, who landed a mixed 5 of their 34 field-goal makes an attempt.
Whereas Ionescu and Stewart struggled, the Liberty turned to Jones for offensive manufacturing. Jones related on 5 of her 10 field-goals and made all seven of her free-throw makes an attempt within the deciding sport. Her 17 factors and +10 plus-minus each led the group.
Jones spoke on how she was in a position to preserve her composure throughout a career-defining night time following the sport.
“You need to lock in if you wish to be a champion,” Jones said. “It was all about this and us profitable collectively as a result of we actually love one another. We’re right here now so it was all value it.”
