2023 WNBA Finals: How Jonquel Jones used her heartache to lift Liberty to Game 3 win over Aces

Jones went down 0-2 in the 2022 WNBA Finals, and she shared that experience with her teammates to motivate them

By Erica Ayala Oct 18, 2023 at 12:01 pm ET• 6 min read

BROOKLYN -- Jonquel Jones has been the undeniable leader for the New York Liberty in the 2023 WNBA Finals. She leads the team with averages of 21 points and 9.3 rebounds through three games against the Las Vegas Aces. With her team down 0-2 ahead of Game 3, Jones dug deep and got vulnerable with her teammates. 

"We all took it personal, especially me, coming back from Vegas after playing the way we played," Jones said after practice on Tuesday.  

The "especially me" line denotes Jones' familiarity with the scenario. Jones spent her first seven WNBA seasons playing with the Connecticut Sun and has fallen short in two WNBA Finals, including last year to none other than A'ja Wilson and the Aces. The Sun dropped the first two games in Vegas, just as the Liberty did this year. The Sun went on to lose to the Aces in Game 4 on their home court. 

Upon returning to New York after two disastrous losses, Jones got vulnerable and laid it all out for her teammates. Sure, players like Breanna Stewart, Courtney Vnadersloot and Stefanie Dolson have been to the WNBA Finals before. However, each of them has won a title. Only Jones could speak from the other perspective.