NEW YORK—Jonquel Jones is a WNBA champion, a Finals MVP and, very soon, one of the most expensive players in the league. The New York Liberty forward capped a dominant playoff run by leading New York to its first championship in franchise history, and the business implications are already clear: her next deal is going to cost somebody serious money.
Jones averaged 27 points and 14 rebounds across the four-game series, shooting 58 percent from the field and 42 percent from three-point range. She averaged 2.5 blocks per game against Chicago's offense. That is not a one-dimensional player. That is a closer.
She signed a two-year, $414,000 contract in 2023. Her next deal—potentially as an unrestricted free agent in 2027—will push near the league's supermax threshold, and endorsement partners will be lining up. Finals MVP on the biggest stage in women's basketball does not come with a modest price tag attached.
The Liberty made a calculated investment in Jones' talent, and it paid off with a trophy. Her ability to impact both ends of the court is precisely why New York built around her. Now the rest of the league has to figure out how to answer that.
The WNBA's growth story keeps getting better material. Star performances in championship moments drive viewership, fan engagement and sponsorship conversations. Jones just handed the league a marquee name with a title to her credit.
