In the heart of New York, Jonquel Jones has carved a reputation as one of the most commanding presences in the WNBA. With a blend of size and grit, she has become a cornerstone for the Liberty’s growing championship ambitions.
Her path from Freeport to basketball’s brightest stage is a story built on resilience and reinvention. Beyond the dazzling stats and MVP honors, she embodies the determination of an athlete who continues to redefine her role with every season.
Yet, her profile extends well past the hardwood. From her personal milestones to her defining on-court moments, she has layered a career that speaks to impact, evolution and legacy. Each chapter reveals a piece of the player she has become.
How old is Jonquel Jones?
Jonquel Jones is 32 years old. She was born on January 5, 1994, in Freeport, Bahamas, and currently plays center for the New York Liberty. The WNBA identifies her as a six-time All-Star and the 2021 WNBA MVP.
Jonquel Jones #35 of the New York Liberty (Source: Elsa/Getty Images)
She moved to the United States as a teenager to pursue basketball and eventually played college basketball at George Washington University. She was selected No. 6 overall in the 2016 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks before being traded to the Connecticut Sun.
How tall is Jonquel Jones?
Jonquel Jones is 6 feet 6 inches tall (1.98 meters). The WNBA lists her at 6-foot-6 and 215 pounds, making her one of the tallest players in the league and a particularly imposing presence at center.
Her size has been a major part of her success as a rebounder and interior defender, although she has also developed a reliable perimeter game. She has made 383 career three-pointers at a 38.3% rate, according to the Liberty’s 2026 team notes.
Jonquel Jones’ love life: Is she single?
Jonquel Jones has been publicly engaged to Nesha Legania. The two became publicly known as a couple before getting engaged in April 2023. Legania has also been described as her fiancée in reporting from her native Bahamas.
She has spoken openly about her sexuality and her journey toward embracing her identity. In ESPN’s 2022 profile, she discussed having a girlfriend while she was in high school and later becoming more comfortable publicly sharing that she is a lesbian.
What is Jonquel Jones’ jersey number?
For Jonquel Jones, number 35 is not just stitched on her jersey; it has become part of her identity. Worn proudly with the New York Liberty, the number has accompanied her through some of the highest peaks of her professional career.
Jonquel Jones #35 of the New York Liberty looks on during the second half against the Connecticut Sun in 2025. (Source: Jordan Bank/Getty Images)
Athletes often choose numbers for deeply personal reasons—sometimes to honor a role model, sometimes as a symbol of their journey. While she has never gone into great public detail about why she chose 35, what’s clear is how strongly the number has come to represent her dominance.
Every time she steps onto the court, “35” becomes shorthand for her rebounding prowess, defensive versatility, and offensive firepower. It’s a number Liberty fans now associate with hope and championship dreams.
Jonquel Jones’ career highlights
2026 WNBA All-Star MVP: Jones earned her sixth career All-Star selection in 2026 and then won All-Star Game MVP. She scored a team-high 22 points for Team Spoon in a 129-122 victory over Team Coop. It was her first All-Star MVP award.
2024 WNBA Champion: Jones helped the New York Liberty win the first championship in franchise history. New York defeated the Minnesota Lynx in five games in the WNBA Finals.
2024 WNBA Finals MVP: Jones was named Finals MVP after her performances throughout the championship series, adding the award to an already impressive individual résumé.
2021 WNBA MVP: During her time with the Connecticut Sun, Jones was named the league’s Most Valuable Player after one of the best seasons of her career. She also earned All-WNBA First Team honors that year.
2023 Commissioner’s Cup MVP: In her first season with the Liberty, Jones earned Commissioner’s Cup MVP honors, adding another major league award to her résumé.
2018 Sixth Woman of the Year: Jones won the WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year award with Connecticut, showing the versatility that allowed her to make an impact even when coming off the bench.
2017 Most Improved Player: Just one year after entering the WNBA, Jones was named Most Improved Player. She also earned All-WNBA Second Team honors that season.
Six-time WNBA All-Star: Jones has been selected to six All-Star Games: 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2026. Her 2026 selection was her first since 2024.
Five-time All-WNBA selection: Jones has earned All-WNBA recognition five times, including First Team honors in 2021 and Second Team selections in 2017, 2019, 2022 and 2024.
Four-time All-Defensive Team selection: She has also been recognized among the WNBA’s top defenders four times, in 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2024.
Historic postseason performance: Jones set a WNBA single-postseason record with eight double-doubles during the 2023 playoffs. The Liberty later noted that she became the only player in WNBA history to record at least 10 postseason double-doubles with multiple teams.
Connecticut Sun legend: Before becoming a Liberty star, Jones spent her first seven WNBA seasons with Connecticut. In 2026, the Sun honored her as a Sun Legend and retired No. 35, placing her jersey in the rafters at Mohegan Sun Arena. She finished her Sun career ranked first in franchise history in blocks, third in rebounds and fifth in points.
Unique award résumé: Jones became the first player in WNBA history to win Most Improved Player, Sixth Player of the Year and MVP during her career, all while establishing herself as one of the league’s premier frontcourt players.
WNBA career production: Through the latest WNBA profile, Jones has averaged 13.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game over her career, further illustrating her impact across multiple areas of the game.
