The New York Liberty will be well-represented for the WNBA All-Stars vs. USA Basketball Women’s National Team All-Star Game in Phoenix later this month.
After considering fan, media and coach votes, Jonquel Jones was selected as a WNBA All-Star, the league announced Tuesday night.
The countdown begins… ⏳
Get ready to witness the ultimate clash of talent as #WNBAAllStar meets the USA Women’s National Team on July 20th at 8:30pm/ET on ABC 📺 pic.twitter.com/oEyJciHmEx
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 3, 2024
The star big will face off against Liberty teammates Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu and Team USA before the national team heads off for the Olympic Games in Paris.
SEE Y’ALL IN PHX! 🌟 pic.twitter.com/iAeIi90vKT
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) July 3, 2024
“I love her but I’m going to try and block every shot,” Jones said of facing off against Ionescu in the All-Star Game, which will take place in Phoenix on July 20.
The initial selection of the All-Stars was conducted through a combination of voting by fans (50% of the vote), current WNBA players (25%) and a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters (25%).
Jones, now a five-time All-Star will be joined by former Connecticut Sun teammates DeWanna Bonner and Brionna Jones. Atlanta’s Allisha Gray, Los Angeles’ Dearica Hamby, Minnesota’s Kayla McBride, Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston and Dallas’ Arike Ogunbowale will also represent Team WNBA. Rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese got their first All-Star nods.
Stewart and Ionescu will be joined by their Team USA teammates that’ll be heavy favorites for this summer’s Olympics Games. The Las Vegas Aces have the most players on the roster (four): MVP frontrunner A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young. The Mercury are sending Diana Taurasi, Kahleah Copper and Brittney Griner. Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier, Seattle’s Jewell Loyd, and Connecticut’s Alyssa Thomas round out the final 12.
In the fan voting portion, Clark and Boston finished first (700,735 votes) and second (618,680), respectively. Wilson (607,300), Stewart (424,135), and Reese (381,518) rounded out the top five in total fan votes.
Jones’ All-Star selection comes while averaging 16.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.2 blocks for the Liberty this season. Stewart will be making her sixth All-Star Game appearance while leading the Liberty in points (19.8) and rebounds (8.7).
On the same day rosters were announced, Ionescu earned Eastern Conference Player of the Month. The Oregon product makes her third All-Star Game appearance while averaging 18.8 points, 6.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds.
