WNBA gameday discussion: It’s Brionna Jones’ turn to experience her Connecticut Sunset

Last Friday night, the Connecticut Sun welcomed Alyssa Thomas into Mohegan Sun Arena for a final time, with Thomas, now of the Phoenix Mercury, playing her Sunset game against the organization that she long defined.

On Thursday, Brionna Jones, another avatar of WNBA basketball in Connecticut, will experience her Sunset, as the Atlanta Dream visit Uncasville for a final time (7 p.m. ET, WNBA League Pass).

While Thomas was embodiment of the Sun’s signature overachievement, with her bombastic, physical and “where there’s a will, there’s a way” style of play, Jones represented the quieter combination of consistency and adaptability that also kept Connecticut near the top of the league for much of the last decade.

Drafted No. 8 overall by the Sun in the 2017 WNBA Draft, Jones spent eight seasons with the organization.

The 2020 Bubble was the beginning of her breakout. A full-time starter for the first time in her career, she was the most efficient finisher in the league, with a field goal percentage of 60.5 percent.

The following season, she really blossomed.

With Thomas missing all but three games due to an Achilles injury, Jones slotted in as the frontcourt partner for an MVP-winning Jonquel Jones. Her efforts earned her Most Improved Player as she also received the first of the three All-Star honors she would collect while with Connecticut.

The Sun finished a league-best 26-6, with the team’s ability to thrive without Thomas most epitomized by Jones’ ability to scale up her role while maintaining her elite efficiency and winning impact.

That adaptability would also define Jones’ 2022 season. Thomas’ return sent Jones back to the bench. There was, of course, no complaint, just the consistent production that elevated Connecticut.

The Sixth Player of the Year, Jones again was an All-Star, despite starting just seven games. While her traditional stats were modest, advanced stats revealed her undeniable impact. The Sun offense was the best in the league during Breezy’s minutes, as the team had an offensive rating of 124.6 with her on the court.

The second-best offensive rebounder in the league who remained an efficient finisher, Jones unassumingly did her job, with no flash or frills. Her fundamental, often-thankless work, however, was essential to the excellence of a Connecticut team that advanced to the WNBA Finals.

After a torn Achilles ended Jones’ 2023 season after just 13 games, she finished her Connecticut career with another All-Star-worthy season in 2024, playing all 40 games.

Jones’ brand of unglamorous-yet-effective basketball translated seamlessly to the Dream, where she proved as efficient and effective as ever when sharing the court with current Sun Brittney Griner or Naz Hillmon last season.

Limited to eight games so far this season due to an offseason knee injury and procedure, she’s beginning to develop her rhythm playing alongside Angel Reese, in addition to resuming her partnership with Hillmon.

Thus far, it’s understandably been a bit uneven for Breezy.

The outstanding impact metrics that have been automatic for Jones aren’t yet up to her usually top-10 standard. However, she’s coming off the most productive scoring game of her shortened season, not missing a field goal as she netted 15 points in Atlanta’s win over the Toronto Tempo.

Still, Atlanta is 6-2 in the eight games Jones has played, with her return helping the Dream escape their midseason rut.

With a win on Thursday, the Dream can jump back up to fourth in the standings, putting them, at least temporarily, in position to claim home court in the first round of the playoffs.

However, as they showed when Thomas took the court in Uncasville for the final time, the young Sun aren’t going to just gift a win to a franchise legend. As Connecticut hasn’t played since that win over AT and Phoenix, they should be rested and ready to give Atlanta a competitive game.

The two teams last played on June 2, well before Jones’ season debut. It was also just the second game of the season for the Sun’s Leïla Lacan. A season-high 36 points from Rhyne Howard, complemented by 26 points from Allisha Gray, allowed Atlanta to separate for the 16-point victory.

On Thursday, can Rhy and Lish, along with Angel and Naz, make sure Breezy’s Sunset ends with a victory? Or, will the Sun play spoiler?

Let us know what you expect in the comments, in addition to sharing your favorite memories from Jones’ time in Connecticut.