CHICAGO — Jonquel Jones received MVP of the 2026 WNBA All-Star Recreation on Saturday night time on the United Heart. The second query of her postgame press convention was a couple of clip from Thursday that had gone round all weekend, and he or she cried by means of the remainder of it.
No participant had held All-Star MVP, regular-season MVP, Finals MVP, and Commissioner’s Cup MVP earlier than Saturday. The New York Liberty heart can also be the primary Liberty participant to win All-Star MVP, and the primary worldwide participant to win it.
Her aunt’s memorial service was held earlier Saturday. Jones was in Chicago that night time.
„You all are going to have me crying all night time,“ Jones mentioned. „It has been a extremely emotional weekend. My aunt’s memorial service was immediately, after which all the things else that I simply talked about occurred as nicely. There have been a variety of highs and a variety of lows.“
Jonquel Jones is the 2026 WNBA All-Star MVP 🌟
She joins Lisa Leslie, Candace Parker and Maya Moore as the one gamers in WNBA historical past to win an MVP, Finals MVP, and All-Star Recreation MVP! pic.twitter.com/7taLI8zQvS
— ESPN (@espn) July 26, 2026
Teresa Weatherspoon was the overall supervisor of the workforce Jones performed for. Weatherspoon performed for the Liberty from 1997 to 2003. Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve ran the bench, and Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon coached the opposite aspect. Jones arrived in New York in a 2023 commerce with Connecticut.
„To have fun all of the gamers who paved the way in which in our league, and to have T-Spoon teaching our workforce—somebody who means a lot to New York—and with New York that means a lot to me, it made the second much more particular,“ Jones mentioned.
Jones spoke about her aunt for a number of minutes with out being requested a follow-up.
„My aunt meant a lot to me,“ Jones mentioned. „She was one of many matriarchs of our household. A few of my finest recollections are the household gatherings at her home. She was at all times within the kitchen making unimaginable meals and bringing everybody collectively. That is how she confirmed her love. I talked with my household first and obtained their blessing. She wished to be cremated, and her ashes shall be unfold later, so I knew I might have the ability to be there for that. That is why I made a decision to return and play within the All-Star Recreation tonight.“
The Clip From Thursday Evening
On Thursday, a clip from a dwell feed circulated through which Jones informed Courtney Williams that the Minnesota Lynx deserved the 2024 title over the Liberty. New York beat Minnesota in 5 video games within the 2024 Finals for the primary championship in franchise historical past. Jones was named Finals MVP.
Requested Saturday what she had meant, Jones began with the place she was when she mentioned it.
„Clearly, it was an evening out, and people are normally moments the place you let your guard down slightly,“ Jones mentioned. „I used to be speaking to somebody who’s an in depth pal and someone I’ve constructed a relationship with over time. What I mentioned did not actually come out the way in which I supposed.“
Constructed for the second 🥹
Jonquel Jones talks on her love for the sport after turning into the All-Star MVP, and he or she’s appreciative of it ALL!#WNBAAllStar2026 | @ATT pic.twitter.com/fmUN9CbX0y
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 26, 2026
Jones introduced up her 2019 season in Connecticut. The Solar misplaced that Finals to the Washington Mystics in 5 video games.
„What I used to be making an attempt to say is that you could have a workforce with nice chemistry, a terrific season, and all the things seems good on paper, and generally that is nonetheless not sufficient,“ Jones mentioned. „That is why I introduced up the 2019 Connecticut workforce—we had unimaginable chemistry, and it felt like we simply wanted yet one more piece to maintain that group collectively. In 2024, we put our hearts into all the things we did. I would not have wished it to finish every other means. I do know what that championship meant to our metropolis, to me personally, and to each participant in that locker room.“
Jones mentioned she took the response to the clip personally.
„I perceive my feedback had been taken the fallacious means, and I will take accountability for that,“ Jones mentioned. „I’ve a duty at any time when I converse to characterize not solely myself but additionally our group the fitting means. It was a intestine punch for me. I truthfully could not actually benefit from the weekend.“
Her voice gave on the market. She waited just a few seconds and completed the reply.
„New York means quite a bit to me,“ Jones mentioned. „The group means quite a bit to me. Our locker room, our chemistry, what we have constructed—it means all the things. I by no means wished anybody to assume I used to be doing something aside from making an attempt to place my finest foot ahead for our workforce. So I apologize.“
Coach Richa
Temple coach Diane Richardson sat within the room in the course of the press convention, filming on her cellphone. Richardson coached Jones at Riverdale Baptist Faculty in Maryland after Jones left the Bahamas for highschool in america, and he or she turned Jones‘ authorized guardian.
Requested to call the All-Star in her personal life, Jones pointed into the room.
„The All-Star in my life is the lady proper there holding the cellphone,“ Jones mentioned. „That is Diane Richardson. I name her Coach Richa. Lots of people know my story. She opened up her house to me after I got here from the Bahamas as a child that no one knew. She trusted her instincts, trusted God, and gave me a chance. I did not simply acquire a coach or a guardian—I gained a second mom.“
One other achievement for JJ 💥
Jonquel Jones turns into the primary participant in WNBA Historical past to win MVP (2021), Commissioner’s Cup MVP (2023), Finals MVP (2024), and WNBA All-Star MVP (2026)!#WNBAAllStar2026 | @ATT pic.twitter.com/m3U9H7pKIA
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 26, 2026
Richardson is in her fifth season at Temple.
„She’s now the top coach at Temple College, she’s extremely busy, and he or she nonetheless makes time to be right here supporting me,“ Jones added. „I admire her a lot, and he or she’s undoubtedly the All-Star in my life.“
Close to Triple Double
Jones was inside attain of a triple-double late within the sport. Reeve obtained to her earlier than her ultimate stint to let her know she wanted three extra assists, however she completed with eight.
„As for the triple-double, Cheryl Reeve came to visit earlier than I checked again in and informed me I wanted three extra assists,“ Jones mentioned. „We tried to run just a few performs to get it completed, nevertheless it did not occur. That is okay.“
The Dunk, and the One Earlier than It
Jones dunked on the 2017 All-Star Recreation, sharing the ground with Maya Moore. One other in-game dunk landed Saturday, and Jones watched it from the bench subsequent to Nneka Ogwumike. She was requested which of the 2 nights meant extra.
„I feel the MVP is a bit more significant,“ Jones mentioned. „Once I noticed Dominique dunk tonight, Nneka and I had been speaking about it on the bench. I remembered how all people made room for me to have my dunk in 2017. I used to be sharing the court docket with Maya Moore and so many gamers I might admired rising up. For them to create that second for somebody who actually hadn’t established herself within the league but meant all the things to me.“
Paige Bueckers was on the ground for it. Saturday was her first All-Star Recreation.
„She makes it look simple,“ Bueckers mentioned. „Fortunately she was on my workforce, so I obtained to see it up shut and private.“
Jones was requested concerning the league she got here into in 2016 and the one she is in now.
„Because the league continues to develop and new issues come into the game—whether or not it is sports activities betting or different developments—I feel it is necessary that we proceed to guard that sense of neighborhood, togetherness, and love,“ Jones mentioned. „Typically after I look on-line, I do not see that as a lot anymore.“
Over 19,000 followers attended Saturday’s sport, the most important crowd ever for a WNBA All-Star Recreation.
