The early-June setting might’ve made it too early to begin considering the WNBA Finals, but with a three-game menu that featured matchups against the then-undefeated Connecticut Sun and the two-time defending champions, measuring stick games, for the New York Liberty, had arrived. In what would become one of the more scorching offensive stretches of her decorated, top-of-the-league career, Jonquel Jones’ measurements certainly qualified as accurate. In dire need of separation with only a one-point edge in the final 90 seconds, Jones provides the necessities, drifting off of a pick-and-pop before smoothly burying a game-clinching 3-pointer. Jones’ bucket effectively extinguished Connecticut’s red-hot 9-0 open to 2024, guiding a win that ultimately helped push New York into the standings-based driver’s seat over the following weeks. An impactful presence on both sides, Jones lit up the scoreboards for 22 points (on 9-of-14 shooting), eight rebounds, five assists, one steal, four blocks, and four 3-pointers. By the end of said week, Jones had erupted for 28.3 points on 71-65-83 percentage splits, illustrating her big-game form. · Jun 8, 2024