Liberty Star Jonquel Jones Drops Strong Message After WNBA Finals MVP Win

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New York Liberty forward Jonquel Jones delivered a powerful message after winning the 2024 WNBA Finals MVP award.

Jones’ statement “delayed but never denied” summed up her emotional journey in professional basketball.

During her MVP speech, Jones fought back tears as she accepted the award from WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

She reflected on her past struggles, saying, “Y’all know my story, y’all know how many times I’ve been denied it but, it was delayed that’s all it was.”

In a thrilling Game 5 against the Minnesota Lynx, Jones played a crucial role, scoring 17 points and grabbing six rebounds. Her teammates, Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart, struggled with their shooting, but Jones stepped up to lead the Liberty to a 67-62 overtime victory, earning her the MVP title for her outstanding performance.

Jones was taken as the No. 6 overall pick in the 2016 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks, but she was later traded to the Connecticut Sun, where she experienced both triumphs and heartbreak, including a loss in the 2019 finals.

The Liberty aimed to build a championship-caliber team, bringing in Stewart from Seattle and Jones from Connecticut to join Ionescu, their top pick in 2020.

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Before the decisive Game 5, Jones emphasized the importance of execution stating, “I think it is going to come down to the end again and the team that executes well and isn’t playing on their back foot is going to be the team that wins.”