Jonquel Jones Wins 2024 WNBA Finals MVP as Liberty Win 1st-Ever Championship vs. Lynx

On Sunday night, the New York Liberty won their first WNBA championship, defeating the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in overtime. Jonquel Jones, a seventh-year player from George Washington, was voted the 2024 Finals MVP after averaging 17.8 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting 56% from the floor. Jones finished Game 5 with 17 points, six rebounds, and one assist to help the Liberty win the title.

Jones was picked by the Los Angeles Sparks then traded to the Connecticut Sun as the sixth overall choice in the 2016 WNBA Draft. Jones was fighting back emotions as she accepted the trophy from WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “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,” Jones stated shortly after the game. “I’m so happy to do it here.”

The 30-year-old, who was born in the Bahamas, adds the award to a long list of others, including 2017 Most Improved Player, 2018 Sixth Woman of the Year, and 2021 MVP. Teammates Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart faltered during Game 5, thus Jones’ ability to step up was critical to her team’s overtime victory. Ionescu finished the game with 1-19 shooting, five points, eight assists, and seven rebounds, while Stewie had 13 points on 4-15 shooting and 15 rebounds.