The Tribune

By TENAJH SWEETING

Tribune Sports Reporter

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

JONQUEL ‘JJ’ Jones already has a long list of notable career accolades and she recently added one more during the New York Liberty’s recent four-game winning streak.

During the first week of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) season, the Grand Bahamian forward became the fastest player in the league’s history to amass 2,000 rebounds and knock down 250 three-pointers.

As for the Liberty, their current 4-0 win/loss record represents the best start for the franchise since the 2007 WNBA season.

The 2023 WNBA Championship finalists extended their winning streak over the weekend against the 1-3 Seattle Storm, dominating them 74-63 at the Barclays Centre.

Jones had her second highest scoring output of the young season with 16 points and eight rebounds. On the defensive end, she blocked two shots and offensively she was efficient, shooting 5-for-9 on 55.6 per cent shooting from the field and was perfect on her five attempts at the charity stripe.

The 30-year-old post player appears to be healthy and more comfortable in her second season with the team. She is averaging 17.3 points per game (ppg), 9.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks while shooting 55.8 per cent from the field and 43.8 per cent from deep over this four-game stretch.

On Monday, the Liberty went on a 21-9 run during the first quarter against Seattle at home helping them to a 12-point cushion (27-15) moving into the second quarter.

Meanwhile, at the 8:48 mark of the opening quarter, Jones passed former WNBA forward/centre Lauren Jackson as the fastest player to rack up 2,000 rebounds and make 250 three-pointers. She joined a shortlist of just eight players to attain those marks and is the sixth fastest player to hit the 2,000 rebounds feat.

Both teams then struggled to score in the second period of the contest but the Liberty managed to remain in charge 36-24.

For the Storm, it was the lowest scoring total in a first half by a Liberty competitor in six years.

The Libs kept the momentum rolling in the second half when three-point specialist Sabrina Ionescu, who scored a game-high 20 points, got the ball to Jones with 8:25 on the clock for a layup that would push the team in front 41-28.

Seattle stormed back late in the third behind a layup made by Mercedes Russell to shave the margin down to 10 but it was never enough against the Liberty. Since defeating the Washington Mystics in the season opener, New York has steamrolled all of their recent opponents by an average of 15 points per game.

Before taking down Seattle, the Liberty pummeled rookie Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever in a home-and-away series.

The Grand Bahama native and the Eastern Conference leaders dished out a 102-66 drubbing on the road against the Fever. While at home, the end result was closer but still the same as the Liberty won 91-80 this time around.

Next up on the schedule for this Eastern Conference powerhouse team will be rookie Angel Reese and the 1-1 Chicago Sky.

The game is slated for 7pm tonight at the Barclays Center.