Jones sisters reunite in Sun training camp
The last time sisters Brionna and Stephanie Jones played together on the same team was during Brionna’s senior season and Stephanie’s freshman year at Maryland during the 2016-2017 season.
Maryland reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament and weeks later Brionna was selected No. 8 overall in the 2017 WNBA draft by the Connecticut Sun.
Now, four years later, the two are back on the same team after Stephanie signed a training camp contract with the Sun on March 28.
“It’s been amazing having her in training camp,” Brionna said during the Sun’s media day on Wednesday. “When I got that call that she was coming to training camp, I was so excited for her and just being able to experience that with her. It’s been great for me. I get to help her out, share everything that I’ve learned so far and just feed her ear all the time.”
During the WNBA’s bubbled season last summer, Brionna had her best season yet with the Sun and led the team in field goal percentage (60.5 percent) and was third with 11.2 points per game. This upcoming season marks the 6-foot-3 forward’s fifth year with Connecticut.
“It’s really cool to have seen her grow over the past few years especially like her first couple years she kinda had the opportunity to really step back and watch and see JJ [Jonquel Jones] and all them and learn from them,” Stephanie said. “And then last year she had the opportunity to really step up and play a bigger role for the team and I think she’s ready for it. I’m really excited for her and it’s really cool to see and to
be able to be out here on the courts to watch her play.”
This season’s training camp is Stephanie’s first WNBA experience after going undrafted in 2020. She spent the past six months of the offseason playing overseas in Poland. With Brionna playing in the Czech Republic, the two sisters were able to see each other for Christmas.
“That was kinda hard but it was worth it,” Stephanie said. “Just to be able to play and have that experience. I mean I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
While the two share a handful of similarities — both tore their ACL their senior year of high school and are ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in Maryland’s AllTime Career Field Goal Percentage list — they play different games as post players.
Brionna said she plays more physical with her back to the basket, whereas she thinks Stephanie has more finesse with her movements and shots. Sun head coach Curt Miller said despite both having impressive basketball IQs, he sees Stephanie more as a power forward, with her ability to do more than just rebound, and Brionna as a center.
“First you realize in a hurry that, their parents must be absolutely incredible because they are two incredible young women. Just the nicest people, great teammates, they’re just a pleasure to be around,” Miller said. “They’re both very basketball smart. It allows them to be a step ahead, thinking the game, it just really translates on the court that they’re both really high basketball IQ players.
“You can understand after working with Steph Jones why she was the glue to that Maryland team for the last four years because she kinda does a little bit of everything and is ready to provide whatever is needed, but definitely Bri Jones is more 5 and Steph Jones is more 4. Steph Jones has been the surprise of camp and just a real pleasure to work with.”
The Sun have until 5 p.m. on Thursday to make final roster cuts and decide if Stephanie will be selected for one of the two open remaining spots on the team’s roster. As for now, she’ll continue soaking up every minute she has with not only the team and the league, but with her sister too.
“It’s really a dream come true, especially in the WNBA,” Stephanie said. “I always dreamed of being able to play in this league and just to have this experience right now, it’s just the best feeling.”
Connecticut plays its second preseason game on Saturday at Dallas against the Wings.
TEAM UPDATES
1 Every player in the Sun market has had at least the first does of the COVID-19 vaccine, with one player in camp fully vaccinated. The whole Sun staff has received both doses and are in varying spots within the two-week fully vaccinated window, including coach Miller.
1 Jonquel Jones is in Connecticut but is currently waiting through her six-day quarantine period. Miller told media on Thursday, she is expected to start individual training this weekend and will hopefully join group practices by May 12 if she continues to test negative.
1 After returning from playing overseas in Hungary, Briann January will spend some time on the West Coast before coming to Connecticut. The Sun are hopeful to have her for the opener since she is fully vaccinated and will have shorter quarantine protocols once she arrives.
1 While her arrival is still TBD, Jasmine Thomas is not fully vaccinated and will have to go through the six-day quarantine protocol once she does arrive.