The 2021 MVP is officially back.
The Liberty re-signed star center Jonquel Jones on Friday, the team announced. The deal will keep Jones in New York for two years, according to ESPN.
The move comes weeks after reports surfaced that Jones intended to stay in New York despite receiving significant interest from other WNBA teams.
Getting the 6-6 center to stay in New York was Liberty GM Jonathan Kolb’s “first priority.” And with her return, the team’s path to returning to the WNBA Finals is a bit clearer.
“We are overjoyed to welcome back JJ,” Kolb said. “In just one season, she became an indelible part of the Liberty’s core identity, on and off-the-court, and keeping her in seafoam was our first priority in open free agency as we continue our championship pursuit in 2024.”
Jones returns after helping the Liberty reach its first WNBA Finals since 2002. She was the Commissioner’s Cup MVP in 2023 and posted averages of 11.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 blocks per game in the regular season. She shot 52.7% from the field and 35.2% from downtown.
Unlike last year, the star center is on track to enter training camp fully healthy. A foot injury sustained in the 2022 WNBA Finals as a member of the Connecticut Sun hindered Jones’ transition to the Liberty. She finally turned a corner after the 2023 All-Star Break, when she recorded a double-double in seven of the 10 matchups after the break. Jones averaged 14.6 points and 12.4 boards during that span. The center had recorded just two double-doubles before the break.
Jones was also the team’s most reliable player in the postseason. The Freeport, Bahamas native set the WNBA’s all-time single postseason record for most double-doubles (8) during the Liberty’s 2023 playoff run. She averaged 17.0 points, 11.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game during that stretch.
Kolb will now shift his efforts to re-signing 2023 MVP Breanna Stewart. The star forward was designated a core player by the team, which makes her ineligible to test free agency this winter.
The Liberty’s first game of the 2024 season will take place on the road against the Washington Mystics on May 14.
