Jonquel Jones marked what could be her final game at Mohegan Sun Arena with a commanding performance, leading the New York Liberty to an 82-75 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Saturday.
Jones, who has spent six seasons with the Sun, set a personal season high with 19 points in the first half alone. She concluded the game with a team-high 23 points and 11 rebounds, securing her 15th double-double of the season. This performance adds a notable chapter to her history at the arena before the Sun franchise relocates to Houston for the next season.
"Clearly, a lot of memories here, a lot of great people," Jones said. "Sad to see the Sun go but excited to really see what things will turn into and it’ll be my first time to be able to visit Houston and all of that stuff next year."
Prior to the game, Jones was recognized as part of the "Sun Legends" campaign, with her jersey displayed alongside other franchise greats. She expressed that the franchise holds a special place in her heart and that securing a win in a venue known for being challenging was particularly gratifying.
Liberty teammate Breanna Stewart, a former UConn standout, shared similar sentiments about playing in Connecticut. "Anytime coming here knowing that getting support from Husky fans and things like that is really special," Stewart said. "It’s tough to see the team go but like J just said, it’s exciting to see what’s coming. I like that we had a lot of our fans for us today … but yeah, a lot of great memories here and happy that the last one was a win."
Jones had previously missed a game in Connecticut on June 8 after falling ill before tipoff.