Sports

Jonquel Jones’ quest for more WNBA glory meant a different offseason

After she finally tasted the one accomplishment missing from her decorated résumé, when the moment Jones dreamed about for years finally turned into reality, she knew it’d be difficult to replicate the thrill of that night.

Pieces of confetti still floated inside Barclays Center when Jonquel Jones hoisted the WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player trophy over her head , “MVP” chants echoed around her, and any remaining sting that lingered from her close calls — the what-ifs, the quests that fell just short — evaporated with the Liberty’s championship now secured. Jones lost in the 2019 Finals with the Sun. Lost again when Connecticut returned in 2022.

She made it back to the ultimate series for a third time during her first year with the Liberty in 2023, but all three trips ended with heartbreak..