The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Jonquel Jones made her second WNBA All-Star appearance and posted a double double in the 2019 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game.

Jones finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds for Team Delle Donne in their 129-126 loss to Team Wilson on Saturday in the league’s midseason showcase at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In addition to the highlight of the weekend, Jones’ versatility was on display when she took second place in the WNBA Skills Challenge on Friday night.

The Skills Challenge was a three-round, obstacle-course competition that tested dribbling, passing, agility and three-point shooting skills. The event was a head-to-head, bracket-style tournament format.

In round one, Jones defeated Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier in the head-to-head matchup. She then went on to defeat Chicago Sky guard Courtney Vandersloot in the semis to advance to the final. Jones fell just short of the title, won by Sky guard Diamond DeShields.

The 255 combined points are the most in WNBA All-Star history.

The NBA experimented with two new rules during the All-Star game, having a 20-second shot clock and allowing both teams to sub in one player on offence in a hockey-like move once a quarter.

In her 2017 All-Star game appearance, Jones finished with 24 points and nine rebounds in a 130-121 loss for her Eastern Conference against the West at KeyArena in Seattle, Washington.

The WNBA regular season resumes on Tuesday. With next year being an Olympic year it’s unlikely there will be an All-Star Game as the league tends to take a month off in July for the Olympics

Jones is in the midst of another standout season and has led the Sun to the top of the Eastern Conference standings at 13-6.

In her fourth season, she is averaging a team-high 15.3 points and leads the league in rebounding (10.2) and blocked shots (2.37).

According to Alex Andrejev of the Washington Post, Jones is on course to set career highs in field goals and three-pointers attempted and is also on pace to average a double-double for the second time in three seasons, which would make her one of just four players in the league to do so in multiple years.

“I’m trying to be more aggressive offensively and understand that there are times when I just have to put my head down and try to go get a bucket instead of looking for other people to do it,” Jones said.

“I think I’ve been learning a lot this season. I think I’ve grown a lot this season.”