The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Connecticut Sun have placed the core tag on reigning WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones, weeks ahead of what is expected to be a busy 2022 free agency period.

According to the league, “The Core designation gives that team exclusive negotiating rights with the player.”

Teams were officially able to begin negotiations with players on January 15, but deals cannot be finalised until February 1.

WNBA teams are allowed to assign one unrestricted free agent as a core player. The unrestricted status is revoked and is offered a one-year super-max deal, however, a long term contract can be negotiated if both parties see fit.

The player also has the right to veto any trade prior to signing a new contract.

Jones is one of five former MVPs in this year’s free agent class and seven of the 10 players from last season’s All-WNBA teams.

The 2022 free agent class is also highlighted by Breanna Stewart (Seattle Storm), A’Ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces), Liz Cambage (Las Vegas Aces), Sylvia Fowles (Minnesota Lynx), Kahleah Copper (Chicago Sky), Jewell Lloyd (Seattle Storm) and Courtney Vandersloot (Chicago Sky).

In her fifth WNBA season, Jones received 48 of 49 first-place votes and 487 total points from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters to win the league’s MVP.

She was unanimously selected to the 2021 All- WNBA First Team. It was the first time Jones received First Team honours. She was previously named to the Second Team twice.

She averaged 19.4 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.26 blocked shots, and 1.26 steals in 31.7 minutes in 27 games.

The 6’ 6” forward led the WNBA in rebounding and defensive rebounding (8.7 per game) and ranked fourth in scoring and 10th in blocks. Her efficiency rating of 25.4 was second only to Griner. She also reached the 2,000-point plateau for her career.

Behind Jones, the Sun posted the highest winning percentage in franchise history (.813) and finished the regular season with 14 consecutive victories for the fourth-longest winning streak in WNBA history. Connecticut also earned the league’s best record (26-6) and the No. 1 seed in the 2021 WNBA Playoffs.

Jones, 27, won the WNBA Peak Performer Award as the league’s top rebounder for the third time in five seasons. She also led the WNBA in rebounding in 2017 and 2019.

She scored at least 20 points in 12 of 27 games, including a career-high 31 points vs the New York Liberty on June 5 and again at Washington on August 31. She also grabbed a career-best 17 rebounds at New York on July 11.

Jones finished the season with 18 double-doubles (points-rebounds).

She was also named the WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month for May, August and September.

In a season of milestones, Jones was also named to the WNBA All-Defensive First Team, the Associated Press Player of the Year and AP First-Team Honours.